Department for Transport

Road Traffic: Hampshire

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect on traffic on (a) the A326 and (b) Jacob's Gutter Lane of projected heavy goods vehicle movements arising from the proposed leasing of land at the Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the frequency with which the level crossing at Junction Road, Totton, will have to be operated resulting from increased use of the railhead at Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre, following the awarding of a lease at the site to a private enterprise.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre is still under consideration for possible sale or lease by the MOD. Any subsequent use of the land would be for consideration at the local level along with an assessment of the transport implications on the surrounding network. The transport assessment would not be the responsibility for the Department for Transport but would be for the local highway authority to consider. In addition, it is a matter for Network Rail to make an assessment of the risk at the level crossing at Junction Road, Totton.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Claire Perry: Since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details of procurement opportunities, tender documents and contracts worth over £10,000 are published online on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) also publishes details of its contracts on its web site (http://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/).

Northern Rail

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with bidders for the Northern Rail franchise covering the Colne to Blackpool South service via Preston on the replacement of Pacer trains with rolling stock that has not previously been used on London Underground.

Claire Perry: The Department has held discussions with bidders for the Northern franchise to discuss and receive feedback on a range of specification areas, including rolling stock and the intended service specifications across the new franchise. Our specifications for the Northern franchise will be set out in the Invitation to Tender document, which will be published shortly.

Rolling Stock

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how long Pacer trains will continue to operate on Northern Rail services; and when all Pacer trains will be retired.

Claire Perry: We are committed to improving services for passengers across the North. We recognise that Pacers fall short of passengers’ expectations, which is why in our Invitation To Tender, we will specifically ask bidders to set out plans for how they will phase out these trains from the Northern Rail franchise, either in their core proposition or as an option. Sadly, the last Northern franchise, let in 2004, contained no such provision. Further details will be set out in the Invitation To Tender for the Northern franchise, which will be published shortly.

Railways: North of England

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions representatives of his Department have met Rail North since the close of the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises; and who represented Rail North at each such meeting.

Claire Perry: We have been working closely with Rail North on developing the specifications for the Invitation To Tenders, with Rail North officers embedded with the Department’s project teams for many months. In addition Rail North senior managers have attended regular meetings with the Department. Officials from the Department have also met with and presented to Rail North Leaders.

Railways: North of England

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve that body's response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry: We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly. Rail North have confirmed through their own processes that they are in agreement with publishing the response as a joint document.

Railways: North of England

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which staff of Rail North will be involved in formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry: We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document. Rail North officers and senior managers have been involved in the formulation of the response to the consultation.

Driving: Licensing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints the DVLA has received about delays in completing a review of an individual's medical information in relation to a driving licence in each year since 2010.

Claire Perry: Specific reasons for complaints about drivers’ medical cases, such as delays, are not available for 2010 to 2013 and are only available for 2014 onwards. For 2014, there were 2275 complaints due to delays in reviewing medical information. Data on the total number of complaints about medical driving licence issues since 2010 is held, however, and over the last five years this equates to 0.3% of the total number of applications that required a medical investigation.

Driving: Licensing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints the DVLA has received about delays in people receiving driving licences in each year since 2010.

Claire Perry: Specific reasons for complaints about drivers’ driving licence applications, such as delays, are not available for 2010 to 2013 and are only available for 2014 onwards. For 2014, there were 2606 complaints due to delays in issuing a driving licence.

Driving: Licensing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications the DVLA has received relating to a review of medical information in relation to a driver's licence in each year since 2010.

Claire Perry: The table below provides the total number of applications received that required a medical investigation before making a driver licensing decision: YearTotal number of applications received2010599,0502011576,2912012619,3832013652,7022014626,629

Conflict of Interests

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements are in place in his Department to manage potential conflicts of interest of civil servants in relation to their previous employment.

Claire Perry: There are a number of arrangements in place; including the Civil Service Code, which refers to an individual’s integrity in putting the obligations of public service above their own personal interests and forms part of the contractual relationship between a Civil Servant and their employer. Contracts of employment issued to a new member of staff also refer to the subject of Conduct and conflict of interest: ‘As a Civil Servant you are required to conduct yourself in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Code, a copy of which is available within the Staff Handbook. It is essential that you are, and are seen to be, honest and impartial in the discharge of your duties. You must not allow your judgement or integrity to be compromised in fact or by reasonable implication. The detailed requirements governing the avoidance of conflicts of interest, the receipt of gifts and hospitality and the standards of conduct expected of you are set out in the Staff Handbook.’ Any Civil Servant who does not adhere to the Civil Service code is liable to disciplinary action including the possibility of dismissal. In addition, applicants are required to declare previous employment on job applications, so recruiting line managers will be aware of potential conflicts of interest. If a role requires security clearance, then an additional independent check is conducted as part of the security checking process.

Railways: North of England

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether representatives from each local authority comprising Rail North will be asked to approve Rail North's response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the existing Rail North board will be asked to assist in formulating the response to the consultation for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.

Claire Perry: We have been working closely with Rail North on the response to the Northern and TransPennine Express consultation, which has been developed jointly and will be published as a joint document.

Railways: North of England

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps in the invitation to tender for the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises to ensure that there is always a second person on the train in addition to the driver.

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what operational regulations or arrangements are in place to ensure that Northern Rail and TransPennine Express services always have another member of staff on board the train in addition to the driver.

Claire Perry: The Department does not specify the numbers of staff or how they should be deployed, as this is something that the operators are much better placed to understand and manage than we are. Train operating companies have to abide by all appropriate health and safety requirements.

Simon Baugh

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recruitment process was used when hiring Simon Baugh, Group Director of Communications for his Department; and what role Mr Baugh will have in his Department after the Airports Commission has made its recommendation on airport expansion in the South East.

Claire Perry: The recruitment process for this role followed the legal principle that a person's selection must be on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The process was overseen at all stages by a Civil Service Commissioner and managed by executive search firm Odgers Berndston. The role was advertised nationally in September 2014, and the process that then followed comprised longlisting, shortlisting, psychometric testing and final interviews by a panel. The panel was chaired by the Civil Service Commissioner and otherwise comprised Philip Rutnam, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport; Alex Aitken, Executive Director of Government Communications, Cabinet Office; David Prout, Director General, High Speed Rail, Department for Transport; and Alison Rumsey, Group HR Director, Department for Transport. Prior to final panel interviews the shortlisted candidates met the Permanent Secretary and the Secretary of State for conversations in which the candidates had the opportunity to ask questions about the Department. The meetings with the Secretary of State were observed by representatives from the Civil Service Commissioner’s office in line with Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. As Mr Baugh was previously employed by Heathrow Airport Ltd, he will not be involved in advising Ministers on issues relating to the work of the Airports Commission for the 6 months following his appointment, which starts on 30 March 2015.

Apprentices

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many apprentices employed by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies are aged (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older; and how many of those apprentices employed in each form of body and of each age group were previously employed by the Government.

Claire Perry: The Department is strongly committed to supporting the recruitment of apprentices. The table below shows how many apprentices are employed by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies in the age groups (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older. Age GroupDfT(c)DVSAVCAMCADVLAHATotal(i)16-18 4  1813(ii)19-24210 492954(iii)25 plus167Total21404114374 The above figures relate to apprentices who were recruited into the Department. We do not hold data on whether they were previously employed by the Government. The figures for the associated bodies are not held centrally.

Railways: North of England

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to publish the invitations to tender for the Northern and TransPennine franchises.

Claire Perry: The Invitations to Tender, and associated documents, for the Northern and Transpennine Express franchises will be published shortly.

East Coast

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was paid or is outstanding in premiums in (a) constant and (b) current prices by East Coast Main Line Company Ltd (i) since November 2009 and (ii) in each of the last five financial years.

Claire Perry: The information requested is n the table below:   The premiums paid by East Coast Main Line Company since November 2009 at Current prices is: 2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15 £m£m£m£m£m£m 4 Rail periods12 Rail periodsTotal Premium (At Current prices)(50.85)(176.30)(188.60)(202.80)(216.80)(215.73)   The premiums paid by East Coast Main Line Company since November 2009 at Constant prices is:Total Premium (At Constant prices)(50.85)(169.99)(173.03)(179.03)(185.31)(179.43)   The amounts paid to date (25/02/2015) are :(50.85)(176.30)(188.60)(202.80)(216.80)(188.63)The amounts oustanding at (25/02/2015) are : (27.10)   *Values in brackets denote payments to DfT

East Coast Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been spent by East Coast Main Line Company Ltd on stations enhancements (a) in total and (b) in each station since November 2009.

Claire Perry: Since 2009, approximately £25 million has been spent on East Coast station enhancements. This majority of this funding comes from schemes such as the Station Commercial Project Facility Fund. The biggest enhancement schemes since 2009 have been at Newcastle (c.£8.5 million), Wakefield (c.£8.2 million) and Peterborough (c.£ 1.9 million). We do not have detailed figures of East Coast spend by station or in total, as they are not obligated to provide such information to us.

Roads: Finance

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria are used to decide which local authorities receive monies from the challenge fund allocation; what weighting is given to highways management efficiency; and how information used in the process of decision is verified.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As part of the Government’s announcement on 23 December 2014 in respect to local highways maintenance funding to highway authorities in England, outside London, the Department for Transport published guidance, an application form, as well as assessment criteria for the local highways maintenance challenge fund. The information is available at the following weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-highways-maintenance-challenge-fund Assessment of all the bids received by close on 9 February 2015 is based on the published criteria and will help inform the decision on successful schemes based on the evidence supplied by local highway authorities. As part of the assessment by the Department for Transport, each bid is being subject to a dual-assessment, and will also go through a moderation exercise plus an internal Department for Transport investment decision committee approval process before Ministers make final decisions on which schemes will be awarded funding.

Home Office

Immigration

Mr David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to implement the ruling pertaining to the immigration case of the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough, Home Office Reference Number SI733366.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has reached a decision on your constituent’s case and wrote to the family’s legal representatives on 24 February 2015, inviting them to enrol their biometric information. Subject to successful enrolment and a number of final checks, a grant of leave to remain will be issued.

Apprentices

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many apprentices employed by (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies are aged (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older; and how many of those apprentices employed in each form of body and of each age group were previously employed by the Government.

Karen Bradley: There are currently (a) 15 apprentices employed by the Home Department and (b) 0 in the Department’s Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies ( formerly Executive Agencies and associated bodies) (as at 31 January 2015). It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the ages of the apprentices employed as it would breach the Department’s obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 not to disclose, to a third party, personal information about another person. The Department does not hold a full employment history for all of our staff so we are not able to identify whether any apprentices have previously been employed by another Government Department.

Human Trafficking: EU Action

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February to Question 223721, if she plans to respond to the recommendations of the Council of Europe Experts on Action Against Trafficking Report on the Implementation of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings by the UK before Parliament dissolves.

Karen Bradley: The Government does intend to respond to the recommendations of the Council of Europe Experts on Action Against Trafficking Report before Parliament dissolves. This response will reflect the important actions we have taken during this Parliament, including introducing the Modern Slavery Bill to Parliament and publishing a comprehensive cross-Government modern slavery strategy.

National Police Air Service

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the annual cost of the National Police Air Service has been since 2012.

Mike Penning: The running costs of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) are met by forces themselves. The NPAS Strategic Board, made up of Police and Crime Commissioners and chief constables, agrees how NPAS is financed and operated to meet the needs of all forces. In 2013/14, the Home Office made a £3.75 million one-off contribution to address a deficit in NPAS revenue budget. The Home Office has provided Capital Grant to NPAS in the following years:2012/13 – £10.8 million2013/14 – £13 million2014/15 – £8.6 million (based on current estimates)In addition the Home Office made capital payments direct to contractors for the building costs of Bournemouth Airbase (£0.3 million in 13/14 and £1.6 million in 14/15).

National Police Air Service

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how reductions in the budget of the National Police Air Service will be distributed between police forces in North Wales and the North West of England.

Mike Penning: The National Police Air Service (NPAS) is a police-led operational initiative, with all strategic decisions, including agreeing the budget and operating model, taken by the NPAS Strategic Board which comprises Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Chief Constables. The Strategic Board agreed on 19 February to convene a small working group of PCCs to define a more equitable NPAS funding model for all force areas.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Developing Countries: Religious Freedom

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will meet the Religious Liberty Commission to discuss placing respect for religious freedoms at the heart of development policy.

Mr David Lidington: Freedom of religion or belief is a priority for this government. We are keen to do all we can to advance it, working in co-operation with non-governmental organistions and the international community. My Noble Friend, The Right Hon. Baroness Anelay of St. Johns would be happy to meet with the Religious Liberty Commission, in the same way as we regularly meet the organisations from which its membership is formed.

Middle East

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the state of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We strongly supported US Secretary of State John Kerry’s tireless efforts to deliver a final status deal in 2014. We were disappointed that the parties proved unable to make more progress. Our priority remains the achievement of a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the best way to achieve this is through negotiations and hope that it will be possible to resume the process after the Israeli elections.

Middle East

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent conversations he has had with his international counterparts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with US Secretary of State John Kerry on 21 February. I spoke to Arab League Secretary General Nabil El Araby on 18 February about the need for swift disbursement of pledges made by donors at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Cairo.

Bahrain

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received on introducing a resolution condemning Bahrain's human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK remains actively engaged with the United Nations Human Rights Council on Bahrain and we will continue to work closely with other member states and to align ourselves with statements which accurately reflect the situation on the ground. The UK is playing a key role in implementing reforms in Bahrain.

Occupied Territories

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Israeli government on the construction of settlements on occupied Palestinian land.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK’s position on Israeli settlements is clear: they are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and take us further away from a two state solution. I made a statement on 30 January, urging the Government of Israel to reverse its decision to publish new tenders for 450 settlement units in the West Bank. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv continue to lobby repeatedly against settlement activity with a range of Israeli contacts.

Yemen

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the prosecution of Hamed Kamal bin Haydara in Yemen.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what effect the recent changes in the Yemeni government have had upon the case of Mr bin Haydara and the Bahá'í community in Yemen.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I am aware of this case and I have spoken with a representative from the Baha’i community in London about it. I also wrote to the Yemeni Foreign Minister on 29 December expressing our concern over Mr Hamed Kamal bin Haydara and that Yemen should comply with International legal obligations and asked that Mr Hamed Kamal bin Haydara and all other citizens are treated in line with the human rights principles set out in Yemen’s National Dialogue Conference. I also copied the letter to the Yemeni Prime Minister, Interior Minister, Human Rights Minister and the Head of the National Security Bureau. HM Ambassador also raised this case in Sana’a on 16 December. Due to the uncertain political situation in Yemen at the moment, it may be hard to make significant progress on this case. On 11 February, we suspended Embassy operations in Sana’a temporarily and have withdrawn diplomatic staff due to a deterioration in the security situation. We will continue to work internationally, where possible, to deliver our objectives in Yemen.

Northern Ireland Office

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance her Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department provides guidance to our managers and their staff on the Civil Service commitment to provide 5 days development a year.

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much her Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department’s expenditure on training in each of the last three financial years is shown below: Financial YearExpenditure (£)2012/1319,9122013/1431,2342014/15 to 31 January 2015Known committed expenditure for remainder of financial year Total18,050 7,960 26,010

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her Department's training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department’s training budget in each of the last three financial years is shown below: YearBudget (£)2012/1332,0002013/1440,0002014/1540,000

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in her Department was in each of the last three financial years.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The number of average training days of full-time equivalent staff employed in my Department is not held in this format. This is because training takes place in many informal formats such as work-shadowing, on the job training and research etc, which are not formally recorded.

Apprentices

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many apprentices employed by (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies are aged (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older; and how many of those apprentices employed in each form of body and of each age group were previously employed by the Government.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department, its executive agencies and associated bodies do not currently employ any apprentices.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Foreign Investment in UK: Commonwealth

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what incentives he is providing to encourage investment from Commonwealth countries in the UK.

Matthew Hancock: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the Government department that works to encourage foreign direct investment into the UK.UKTI’s has teams focussed on attracting inward investment in Australia, Canada, India, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore and New Zealand and all UKTI teams in Commonwealth countries together with UK based UKTI staff provide support for companies or funds considering inward investment into the UK.

Apprentices

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices employed by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies are aged (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older; and how many of those apprentices employed in each form of body and of each age group were previously employed by the Government.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills currently employs 47 apprentices.   3 apprentices are aged (i) 16 to 18, 12 apprentices are aged (ii) 19 to 24 and 32 apprentices are aged (iii) 25 or over.   31 apprentices aged 25 or over were previously employed by the Government. None of the apprentices in the other age groups were previously employed by the Government.   I have asked Chief Executives of the executive agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member and these are attached. 



Agencies Response to 225059
(PDF Document, 1.23 MB)

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what total amount of funds has been allocated via intermediaries in each bidding round of the Regional Growth Fund; and what proportion of such funds has not yet been drawn down.

Greg Clark: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Regional Growth Fund

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total value is of all bids made in each region to each round of the Regional Growth Fund including the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund; how much has been allocated to winning bidders in each region in each round; and how much such funding has not yet been drawn down in each bidding round.

Greg Clark: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Exports: Government Assistance

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many commitments have been agreed under the Export Refinancing Facility Scheme to date.

Matthew Hancock: The Export Refinancing Facility (ERF) is a stand-by facility that is most relevant when there is a lack of medium term export finance liquidity in the banking market.   UK Export Finance has not been approached to issue any ERF commitments to date.

Exports: Government Assistance

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many potential commitments under the Export Refinancing Facility Scheme are under discussion.

Matthew Hancock: The Export Refinancing Facility (ERF) is a stand-by facility that is most relevant when there is a lack of medium term export finance liquidity in the banking market.   UK Export Finance is currently considering three Export Refinancing Facility (ERF) enquires, although none have reached a stage where a bank/borrower has sought an ERF commitment to date.

Temporary Employment

Mr Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage employers to keep on staff initially hired on a temporary basis.

Jo Swinson: Investing in a permanent workforce can have business benefits, however it is for employers and individuals to decide whether this is appropriate in any given situation. The Government has taken some steps to encourage more individuals to discuss different working patterns with their employer where it suits them. As of 30 June last year, all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service can make a statutory request to change their working pattern, for instance to request permanent hours. This is in addition to the Agency Worker Regulations 2010 which ensure all agency workers are entitled to information about relevant job vacancies within the hirer that would be available to a comparable employee or worker from day one of an assignment.

World War II: Medals

Mr David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will ensure that women who worked in munitions factories during World War Two receive a medal to mark their contribution to the war effort.

Matthew Hancock: The Government fully appreciates the efforts and the often very dangerous conditions experienced by those who worked in munitions factories producing vital equipment for the armed forces that helped contribute to winning the Second World War.   The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has given careful consideration to possible formal recognition of the enormous contribution made by all those who manufactured munitions during the War. Given the disruption to employment in the War years and the time elapsed since, it would unfortunately be very difficult to identify all those involved. Many of companies no longer exist and the consequent lack of records for those they employed means that there would be difficulties in verifying any entitlement. It was concluded that it would not be practical to find a way to recognise the contributions of individual workers. However we are aware that an All Party Parliamentary Group on Recognition for Munitions Workers has been set up to explore ways to recognise the collective efforts of those who worked in munitions factories and we are open to working with them on any recommendations they bring forward.

Department for International Development

South Asia

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department disbursed to projects in (a) Pakistan and (b) Azad Kashmir in each of the last 10 years.

Justine Greening: Total UK ODA to Pakistan by financial year since 2005 is as follows. This includes both bilateral and multilateral spend.   Financial YearTotal Spend (£m)2004-0530.42005-0665.62006-0788.92007-0883.32008-09120.92009-10138.72010-11204.42011-12216.42012-13202.92013-14253.1   2014-15 provisional spend is currently being finalised and will be made available by May 2015.   DFID has a bilateral programme with Pakistan, but does not have a specific programme in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), which is an autonomous administrative territory of Pakistan. AJK benefits from DFID-supported national programmes in Pakistan that promote economic growth and improve health services, and has also benefited from DFID’s humanitarian programmes.

Caribbean

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what additional support her Department is providing for Royal Navy personnel assisting with the aftermath of the Caribbean tsunami.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The Royal Navy is not responding to a tsunami in the Caribbean.

Middle East

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department will assess (a) the effect of drone strikes on civilian populations and (b) access to civilian compensation schemes as part of its humanitarian mission in Iraq and Syria.

Justine Greening: We are monitoring the impact of military operations on civilian populations in both Iraq and Syria and ensuring our humanitarian response is targeted to those most in need. To date, the UK has pledged £800 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region, and a further £39.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Access to civilian compensation schemes is an MoD lead and therefore does not form part of our humanitarian mission.

Islamic State

Mr James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department provides to religious minorities affected by the activities of ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Justine Greening: UK aid is reaching hundreds of thousands of vulnerable displaced people across Iraq and Syria, including those religious minorities affected by ISIL’s activities. All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion, or ethnicity. DFID continues to work with the UN and the international community to ensure all minorities’ rights are protected and our aid reaches those in greatest need. To date, the UK has pledged £800 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region, and a further £39.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq.

Afghanistan

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research her Department has undertaken on access of civilian victims of drone strikes in Afghanistan to civilian compensation schemes administered by troop contributing nations.

Justine Greening: Access to civilian compensation schemes is a Ministry of Defence lead. There is a system in place for handling all claims for compensation brought against the Ministry of Defence by Afghan civilians.

Rio Tinto Group

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any former officials in her Department have taken employment with Rio Tinto plc in the last five years.

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether any employees of Rio Tinto plc have been seconded to her Department in the last five years.

Justine Greening: Fewer than 5 former DFID officials have taken employment with Rio Tinto plc in the last five year. The exact number has been withheld to protect the identity of those individuals involved. No employees of Rio Tinto have been seconded to DFID in the last 5 years.

Syria

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the UN World Food Programme in Syria in ensuring that food parcels reach their intended recipients.

Justine Greening: DFID has applied a rigorous process of due diligence to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) as we do with all our partners in Syria and DFID staff in the region are in regular contact with WFP staff.

Malawi

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has issued in additional support to Malawi following the recent floods in that country; what activities this additional finance has been used to fund; and what proportion of such funding has been provided to the Malawian government for redistribution.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID Malawi has committed to provide up to £4.1 million to support both emergency response and early recovery efforts. These are funds from DFID Malawi’s 14/15 budget, including contingency humanitarian funds and the use of value for money savings. This is additional to the £3.4m already provided to meet the humanitarian needs of the food insecure during the lean season. DFID is working closely with partners to ensure that flooding support reaches those that need it most, in line with the Government of Malawi’s Preliminary Response Plan and coordinated through Government-led structures. No UK funding is channelled through Government of Malawi systems.   UK commitments so far include: · £1m to the World Food Programme which is supplying 370,000 people with food for the first weeks, including by air to areas cut off by rising waters. · £665,000 to UNICEF to provide emergency water, sanitation and hygiene facilities to prevent the spread of disease in displacement camps. · Over £1m through NGO and private sector partners to provide seeds and tools to smallholder farmers whose crops have been damaged by the floods. · £800,000 through the UN Humanitarian Fund, in support of particular coordination and camp management, nutrition, protection and health activities, plus funds for specialist UN personnel to coordinate the response.   In addition, a number of NGOs have also accessed the Start Fund, a funding mechanism for delivering rapid humanitarian assistance which is jointly funded by the UK and Irish Governments. ActionAid, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide and Save the Children have used £350,000 from the fund to provide vital resources to those displaced by the floods.

Department for Education

Teachers: Pay

David T. C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the salary sacrifice scheme available to teachers does not cover the purchase of cars.

Mr David Laws: Academies, including free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools, have the freedom to set their own pay and conditions policies, and so are free to offer their teachers access to car purchase salary sacrifice schemes. Currently 15% of all primary schools and 62% of all secondary schools are academies.   In local authority maintained schools, changes to the statutory pay and conditions of teachers must first be referred to the independent School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). Recent STRB referrals have focused on fundamental reforms to the overall pay and conditions framework for teachers. Following the STRB’s recommendations, these reforms have given schools much greater freedom to attract and retain the best teachers and to reward individuals in line with their contribution to improving their pupils’ achievements.   The demands on the STRB’s time and resources in the reform process mean that the Government has had to make hard decisions on the issues it refers to STRB. In light of the focus of the important referrals above, we have not prioritised revisions to the existing salary sacrifice arrangements. However, the Government will consider whether the issue should be included in future referrals to the STRB.

Sixth Form Colleges: VAT

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on extending the VAT refund scheme used by other schools to sixth form colleges.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education’s position on funding for sixth form colleges, and also for further education colleges, is that while the arguments for removing the sector’s liability for VAT are understood, it is not affordable to do this in financial years 2014-15 or 2015-16.

Sixth Form Colleges: VAT

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received from charities, schools, lobby groups and educationalists on the Drop the Learning Tax campaign.

Mr David Laws: The Secretary of State has received correspondence on the Drop the Learning Tax campaign from college representatives such as the Sixth Form Colleges Association, individual colleges and MPs, including a cross-party group led by the hon. Member for Beverley and Holderness.

Dementia

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools in England and Wales have a dementia strategy.

Mr David Laws: All schools have a duty to ensure the wellbeing, health and safety of their staff. The Department for Education does not hold data on the number of schools which have a dementia strategy, but all schools are required to have systems in place to monitor staff who show signs of suffering from a medical condition and to provide necessary support.

Children: Disadvantaged

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policy on early years interventions of the study by Professor James Heckman on the economics of human potential.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Providing children with good-quality education and care in their earliest years can help them succeed at school and later in life. This contributes to creating a society where opportunities are equal regardless of background. We believe we can improve early education by building a stronger and better-qualified early years workforce. We also aim to provide more good-quality affordable childcare.   Professor James Heckman has published a number of (mostly US based) studies, which form part of a much wider evidence base on the substantial benefits of investing in early education. Professor Heckman reports that early education has significant positive impacts on a child’s development and attainment and finds that these impacts can be larger for disadvantaged children. Taken as a whole, the evidence underpins the Department’s policy to provide an entitlement to 570 hours of free early education or childcare a year for all 3 and 4-year-olds and disadvantaged 2-year-olds.   The Department for Education has no current plans to make an assessment of the potential implications for policy on early years interventions of Professor Heckman’s most recent work.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Punishment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many punishments of removal from wing were given to prisoners in each private prison in England and Wales in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: A total of 17 prisoners were removed from the wing or living unit as a punishment, following a guilty finding under the internal disciplinary system, in private prisons from 2010 to 2013. Figures for 2014 are not yet available. If a punishment of removal from the wing or living unit is given, the prisoner or young offender (including people under 18) will be relocated to other accommodation within the establishment, but otherwise continues to participate, as far as possible, in normal regime activities, in association with other prisoners or young offenders. The breakdown for each prison in each year is:2010HMP Parc – 2HMP Peterborough – 12011HMP Doncaster – 7HMP Parc – 2HMP Peterborough – 12012HMP Dovegate – 2HMP Thameside – 12013HMP Thameside – 1

Coroners

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average number of days taken by coroners to release the body of a homicide victim back to the family for burial in each year since 2010.

Simon Hughes: Information on the average number of days taken by coroners to release the body of a homicide victim is not held centrally. This information could only be obtained by inspection of individual case files at each coroner’s office before collating the information, and this could only be done at disproportionate cost. In July 2013 we implemented reforms in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 together with new coroner regulations and rules aimed at improving standards and achieving greater consistency in coroner services. Regulation 20 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 requires a coroner to release the body for burial or cremation as soon as is reasonably practicable. Where this cannot be done within 28 days, the coroner must notify the next of kin or personal representative of the reason for the delay. In February 2014 we also published the statutory “Guide to Coroner Services” which explains the standards of service that can be expected during a coroner’s investigation and what action can be taken if these are not met.

Fines

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress he has made on proposals to privatise the criminal fine enforcement service.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Final bids were submitted on 5 January 2015 and negotiations commenced on 26 January as planned. The full final business case is currently in the process of being updated with results from the negotiation meetings, which then needs to continue through the usual governance and approvals processes that need to occur before any contract award of this type. Further negotiations may be required over the coming weeks to further refine the proposals. The investment and technology an external provider can bring will enable the automation of many of the manual administrative processes and in turn decrease the cost of providing fine enforcement and increase the amount of fines that are paid. The innovation will free up staff time to enable them to be more pro-active in pursuing offenders to ensure they comply with their court order.

Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made in publishing a new Code of Practice for Freedom of Information which apply to services delivered by external providers.

Simon Hughes: We have previously made clear our intention to issue a revised Code of Practice under section 45 of the Freedom of Information Act (‘FOI Act’). I regret that it will not now be possible to bring forward the Code of Practice during this parliamentary session as we had previously intended. However, we do recognise the challenge which the outsourcing of public services poses for transparency. It is our wish that public authorities and their contractors should interpret their FOI obligations broadly, in a way which applies as high a level of transparency as possible, and takes due regard of the principles for public authorities required by the FOI Act. This is one of the reasons why, outside the context of the FOI Act, all central Government contracts over £10,000 have been published on Contracts Finder since 2011.

Offences against Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that all victims of historical child sexual abuse will be assessed for and offered the use of a registered intermediary in the court system.

Mike Penning: Providing support for young victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system is a matter the Government takes extremely seriously. There are a range of special measures in place to support them in giving their best evidence and to help to reduce the anxiety of attending court. This includes screens to shield the witness from the defendant, video links to enable victims and witnesses to give evidence away from the courtroom, the removal of wigs and gowns in cases involving children, and intermediaries to help vulnerable witnesses to give evidence in court. Victims of historical child sexual abuse will also be offered the support of a Registered Intermediary if they require support to communicate their evidence. Publicly-funded defence advocates will in future be required to undertake approved specialist training on working with vulnerable victims and witnesses if they want to be instructed in sexual violence cases.We have strengthened the Victims Code with a section specially written to support young people, and will enshrine in statute the right for a victim to make a personal statement and ask to have it read aloud in court before sentencing.

Witnesses: Advocacy

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) matched and (b) unmatched registered intermediaries requests there were for each group of vulnerable witnesses in each year since 2013.

Mike Penning: We are currently in the process of undertaking a recruitment exercise aimed at doubling the number of Registered Intermediaries available to help vulnerable victims and witnesses understand what is being asked of them to communicate their answers. The following table gives a breakdown of Registered Intermediary cases by age group for the years 2013, 2014 and up to 23 February of this year. YearCaseAge0-45-1112-1718+65+Total2013Cancelled37721240 Matched208364308777621719 Unmatched23525237 Total2133743208236617962014Cancelled13232828799 In progress000303 Matched37583359211721153087 Unmatched184526572148 Total406901646126012433372015 (up to 23/2/2015)Cancelled0513110In progress6221619264 Matched5218012822319603 Unmatched49522242 Total6221615026724719   Totals6811491111623502145852

Witnesses: Advocacy

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many registered intermediaries were requested and matched for children in cases involving (a) sexual offences and (b) other offences at (i) pre-police interview, (ii) pre-trial and (iii) trial for each (A) age group, (B) geographical area and (C) impairment group in the last three years for which figures are available.

Mike Penning: We are currently in the process of undertaking a recruitment exercise aimed at doubling the number of Registered Intermediaries available to help vulnerable victims and witnesses understand what is being asked of them to communicate their answers.The attached tables give a breakdown of Registered Intermediary cases for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 in cases involving children covering sexual offences and other offences, at pre-trial and trial, by police force area and by impairment group. We do not collect data on pre-police interviews.



Breakdown of Registered Intermediary Cases 12-14
(Word Document, 1.72 MB)

Administration of Justice: Children

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average annual cost of court cases involving children that collapse due to insufficient or unreliable evidence.

Mr Shailesh Vara: I have interpreted this question as referring to cases in the criminal courts, and to costs relating to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). No estimate of the average annual cost of court cases involving children that collapse due to insufficient or unreliable evidence is available. HMCTS' case management systems do not record the age of victims and witnesses in all trial cases. The only way to obtain this information would be to manually check every trial case file at each magistrates' court and Crown Court centre and collate the data, which would incur disproportionate costs. Even if this data were available, this would not enable an estimation of the cost to HMCTS as the cost of a criminal case that does not proceed varies widely, depending on a range of factors including the point at which the case ‘collapses’. HMCTS is working closely with other criminal justice system agencies to ensure that cases that proceed to trial are effective, as well as to support children and other vulnerable victims and witnesses in giving evidence. HMCTS is, for example, piloting section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, a special measures provision allowing the cross examination of eligible witnesses’ evidence to be recorded in advance of the trial.

Witnesses: Advocacy

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's annual budget is for registered intermediaries; and what steps he is taking to ensure that this reflects need.

Mike Penning: We are currently in the process of undertaking a recruitment exercise aimed at doubling the number of Registered Intermediaries available to help vulnerable victims and witnesses to understand what is being asked of them to communicate their answers. The use of Registered Intermediaries is funded by the Crown Prosecution Service or the relevant police force, and as such there is no specific budget held by central Government.

Ministry of Defence

Reserve Forces

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on (a) television, (b) newspaper, (c) online, (d) radio and (e) other forms of advertising using the phrase Armed Forces Reserves in the last 24 months.

Mr Julian Brazier: Holding answer received on 24 February 2015



Recruiting to the Armed Forces, including the Reserves, is carried out by the single Services and is supported by single Service advertising. The expenditure figures for advertising by means of the various media stated are commercially sensitive. Details of the overall single Services' spend on Reserves advertising in Financial Year (FY) 2013-14 and their budgets for 2014-15 are publishable and were provided in response to Question 215731 on 1 December 2014, reproduced below.During financial year (FY) 2013-14, the total cost of the Maritime Reserves' recruitment advertising was £2.16 million. The Maritime Reserves' budget for Reserves recruitment advertising in FY 2014-15 is £2.96 million.The Army's 'More Than Meets The Eye' recruiting campaign is designed to attract applications to both the Regular and Reserve components of the Army. The cost of the Reserve element of the campaign is, therefore, an estimate based on a 50% share of the overall campaign cost.During FY 2013-14, the Army estimates that the cost of advertising for Army Reserve recruitment was £1.882 million. The projected share of the budget to be spent on Army Reserve recruitment advertising in FY 2014-15 is £3.8 million.During FY 2013-14, the total cost of the RAF's Reserve recruitment advertising was £2.52 million. In 2014-15, the RAF's budget for Reserves specific recruitment advertising is £2.14 million.

Marchwood Military Port

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to retain on the site of the Sea Mounting Centre at Marchwood (a) 73 Training Squadron, (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary Centre, (c) REME workshops, (d) Motor Transport Department, (e) Mexeflote Storage and Maintenance Facility, (f) Hardstanding for container and vehicle storage and (g) Blast Shields for incoming munitions.

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military facilities and administrative centres sited on the current footprint of the military port at Marchwood are not part of the sea-mounting role of the port; whether he plans to re-locate any of those facilities and administrative centres to other sites administered by his Department within the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Marchwood transaction has been structured as a leasehold and concession to balance the Ministry of Defence (MOD)'s objectives of ensuring continued sea mounting operational capability against increased commercialisation of the port. To this end, the MOD has committed to move facilities that are not essential to these services, off the main Port area over a three to five year 'transitional' period, from the start of the concession.After this transition only MOD facilities associated with its maritime capability will remain on site: The Mexeflote Storage and Maintenance Facility and the Shipyard Workshop with 73 Training Squadron's Maritime Store.By complying with the military's storage requirements, the new Marchwood Port Operator will provide sufficient hardstanding for all military inward and outward cargo under both routine and contingent operations.The Sea Mounting Centre will continue to retain the ability to store and load ammunition for the military throughout the concession.

Marchwood Military Port

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the site security arrangements made by the successful bidder for the lease on the Marchwood port site will be augmented by dedicated security arrangements administered by his Department.

Mr Philip Dunne: Under the Concession Agreement, the new Marchwood Port Operator will be responsible for the security of the site in accordance with the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework, which may be augmented by Ministry of Defence security arrangements when necessary.

USA

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222435, what the name and date was of the agreement pursuant to which five personnel from Squadron 329 are on loan service to US Forces.

Mr Mark Francois: UK loan service (LS) personnel assisting the United States Air Force are covered by the terms of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (1949), the US-UK Chapeau agreement (1993), the US-UK Provision of medical support agreement (2014), and US-UK discussions to determine working-level arrangements. LS personnel are subject to UK Service regulations; they are administered and receive pay and allowances from the UK.

Iraq

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether lethal targeting by UK armed forces in Iraq is limited to ISIL combatants.

Mr Mark Francois: It is Ministry of Defence policy not to comment on specific targets for reasons of operational security. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon) on 13 October 2014 (Official Report, column 9WS), military action in Iraq is part of the Government's comprehensive strategy, working in consultation with our allies in the wider coalition, to tackle ISIL. 



Hansard Extracts 13 October 2014 
(Word Document, 40 KB)

Armed forces: Northern Ireland

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Regular Forces were stationed in Northern Ireland in 2014.

Mr Mark Francois: The number of UK Regular Forces stationed in Northern Ireland in 2014 can be found in the Ministry of Defence Quarterly Location Statistics on the Gov.UK website at the following link:www.gov.uk/location-of-all-uk-regular-service-and-civilian-personnel-quarterly-statistics-indexThe information is reproduced below.UK Regular Forces stationed in Northern Ireland in 2014 (as at October 2014)Officers210Other ranks2,130Total2,340Due to the rounding methods used, figures may not always equal the sum of their rounded parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to prevent systematic bias.UK Regular Forces includes all trained and untrained personnel. Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve personnel, and mobilised reservists are excluded

Gurkhas

Sir Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first recruitment of Gurkha soldiers into the British Army.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

AWE

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance the Atomic Weapons Establishment is receiving from the US authorities on Project Pegasus.

Mr Philip Dunne: Officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) regularly discuss a range of nuclear matters with their US counterparts under the auspices of the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement. These matters include aspects of the capital investment programme at AWE, of which Pegasus forms a part.

AWE

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when construction work on Box A of Project Pegasus at the Atomic Weapons Establishment started.

Mr Philip Dunne: Pegasus is the replacement Highly Enriched Uranium component manufacturing and storage facility, and forms part of the Government's programme of investment in the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites.Preparatory work on Box A started in May 2013 and construction work began in August 2013.

AWE

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the decision to review the scope and delivery schedule for Project Pegasus at the Atomic Weapons Establishment was taken; and when he expects a revised scope and delivery schedule to be approved.

Mr Philip Dunne: Consistent with industry best practice for all projects, Pegasus is under regular review. If a project requires a revised approval then this may be sought once a robust evidence base has been established.

AWE

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected operational dates are for Project Pegasus and Project Mensa at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the expected out-turn expenditure is on (a) Project Pegasus and (b) Project Mensa at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.

Mr Philip Dunne: Project Pegasus received Main Gate approval in August 2011 with an approved cost of £634 million. Project Mensa received Main Gate approval in May 2011 with an approved cost of £734 million. Consistent with industry best practice, major projects are regularly reviewed and may seek revised approvals if a robust evidence base is established.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr Philip Dunne: Information about the contracts the Ministry of Defence awards, including the number and value of contracts awarded in each year since 2007-08, is available in the Ministry of Defence Trade, Industry and Contracts Statistical Bulletin 2014, which can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mod-industry-trade-and-contracts-2014

Veterans: Radiation Exposure

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received on compensation for Christmas Island nuclear test veterans; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Patrol Craft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of the agreement in principle with BAE Systems for three offshore patrol vessels.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 September 2014 (Official Report, column 297W).



4 September 2014
(Word Document, 26 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much the Government has loaned to the insurance industry to assist with the costs of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme in the first year of its operation.

Mr Mark Harper: The Government has not provided a loan to the insurance industry to assist with the costs of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value is of (a) awards under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme and (b) benefits recovered from payments made under that Scheme by the Compensation Recoveries Unit in the period from the commencement of that Scheme to 11 February 2015.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is not currently available. However, information from the commencement of the Scheme up to 31 January 2015 is available and is provided below. a) The gross value of awards under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme between April 2014 and the end of January 2015 is approximately £24,700,0001. b) The value of benefits recovered from gross payments made under the Scheme by the Compensation Recovery Unit for the same period is approximately £5,300,0001. Notes: 1 Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000.

Industrial Health and Safety

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance the Government issues on health and safety protection for workers administering (a) chemicals and (b) poisons used in pest control.

Mr Mark Harper: The Health and Safety Executive’s website provides comprehensive, accessible guidance about safe use, including good practice and access to training, for chemicals athttp://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm, for biocidal products athttp://www.hse.gov.uk/biocides/using.htm and for plant protection products athttp://www.pesticides.gov.uk/guidance/industries/pesticides/user-areas/farmers-and-growers#Advice_on_Using_and_Storing_Pesticides.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Written Statement of 10 February 2015, HCWS 269, on Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, what the additional administrative safeguards referred to in that statement are.

Mr Mark Harper: The administrative safeguards are related to audit, management information and ongoing support of the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office. They provide additional insight into the live running of the Scheme for the insurance industry, but do not impact in any way upon the Scheme itself.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Written Statement of 10 February 2015, HCWS 269, on Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, what estimate he has made of the (a) additional and (b) total cost of paying awards at 100 per cent of average civil damages in the first year of operation of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme.

Mr Mark Harper: Those diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma on or after 10 February 2015 will be eligible for a payment at the increased tariff rate of 100% of average civil claims but no payments can be made at that rate until the regulations which will introduce this change come into effect. Given this timing, this means that there will only be a very small number of claims which will be paid at the increased rate within the first year of the Scheme’s operation.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Written Statement of 10 February 2015, HCWS 269, on Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, whether there will be any change in the amount of the levy on the insurance industry which was announced in the Written Statement of 28 November 2014, column 58WS, on Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme levy.

Mr Mark Harper: On 28 November 2014 the Government announced that the levy for the first year of the Scheme’s operation would be £32m. This was calculated using the estimated costs of the Scheme extrapolated from the first seven months of its operation. There are no plans to change the amount of the levy that was announced on 28 November as we believe it will still be sufficient to cover the costs of the Scheme in its first year.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) applications and (b) awards he estimates will be made by the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme in (i) the first year of the scheme and (ii) each of the next 10 years.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the (a) cost of awards and (b) administration costs of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme in (i) the first year of the scheme and (ii) each of the next 10 years.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is available from the Impact Assessment for the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme which was published in March 2014. This sets out the anticipated levels of claims, awards and costs over the first 10 years of the scheme.https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286525/mesothelioma-payment-scheme-ia-mar-2014.pdf The scheme has now been running since April 2014 with payments being made from July 2014. We will review the estimates made in the Impact Assessment in light of data on the actual number of claims and payments made in 2014/15 and will publish the outcome of that review in due course.

Work Programme

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2015 to Question 221729, how many former Incapacity Benefit claimants that were transferred to either jobseeker's allowance or employment and support allowance had participated in a Work Programme in (a) Edinburgh, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK up to September 2014; and how many of those have found work as a result of that programme.

Esther McVey: Information on the number of Work Programme referrals, attachments and job outcomes, by payment group can be found at:http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland.http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research.htm

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

Esther McVey: Departmental expenditure on training in each of the last three financial years, for which audited accounts have been published, is shown in the table. Training2011/122012/132013/14Total Spend£6,599,138.40£8,613,542.60£9,421,756.17

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Esther McVey: The Department does not allocate a specific budget for training.

Funeral Payments

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of increasing the other funeral expenses category of the social fund funeral payments scheme in line with inflation since the level was set at £700 in 2003.

Steve Webb: There has been no estimate as we do not know what people would have claimed if the limit was higher. However, it is vital that the Government ensures that any scheme funded by the taxpayer is managed properly and the money spent wisely. The funding offered from both Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and Budgeting Loans continues support towards the cost of a funeral, including necessary costs in full, whilst maintaining a fiscally viable fund.

Social Security Benefits: North West

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people aged 18 to 24 years are subject to sanctions for (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance in (i) Preston, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) the North West.

Esther McVey: The information requested for Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance adverse sanctions, by age and geography is published at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sanctions were imposed on employment and support allowance claimants in each month between January 2013 and June 2014; and how many such sanctions were imposed on claimants whose primary condition was (a) mental and behavioural disorders, (b) diseases of the nervous system, (c) diseases of the circulatory or respiratory system, (d) diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, (e) injury, poisoining and certain other consequences of external causes and (f) other.

Esther McVey: The number of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) adverse sanction decisions is published at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm The information requested for primary condition of ESA adverse sanction decisions is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which Ministers in his Department visited departmental buildings in Preston in 2014; which buildings were so visited and on what dates; who was met on each such visit; and what was discussed on each such occasion at those meetings.

Steve Webb: The Secretary of State visited Preston Benefit Centre Barry House, 67-69 London Road, PR1 4DE on 11 April 2014 where he met with DWP staff and discussed a variety of Departmental topics.

Housing Benefit: Glasgow

Mr Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of housing benefit in Glasgow South West constituency are in part-time work.

Mr Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of housing benefit in Glasgow South West constituency are in full-time work.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses

Mr Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the target time is from the point of application for people with (a) cancer and (b) motor neurone disease to receive their benefit entitlement under the special rules for terminal illness.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Work Programme

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people on the Work Programme have been indentified as having mental health problems; and what the employment outcomes have been for those people since the beginning of that programme.

Esther McVey: Information is available which shows the number of ESA claimants who participate on the Work Programme and achieve a Job Outcome. This information also shows where a mental and behavioural disorder has been identified as the primary health condition by these participants. Information is available at:http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html

Employment: Disability

Mr David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to respond to the second report from the Work and Pensions Committee, Improving access to work for disabled people, HC481.

Mr Mark Harper: I will write to Dame Anne Begg MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, in early March 2015.

Apprentices

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprentices employed by (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies are aged (i) 16 to 18, (ii) 19 to 24 and (iii) 25 years or older; and how many of those apprentices employed in each form of body and of each age group were previously employed by the Government.

Esther McVey: Since 2010 the following number of apprenticeship places has been offered in DWP. 2010 – 75 apprentices2011 - 108 apprentices2012 - 237 apprentices2013 - 262 apprentices2014 - 395 apprentices All DWP apprentices are aged between 18 and 24. A further breakdown on age or previous employment without incurring disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much of his Department's expenditure is allocated to preventing, detecting and handling cases of fraud and error in the benefits system; and how many staff in his Department work on those issues.

Mr Mark Harper: The Fraud and Error Service (FES), part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for the investigation of fraud against all benefits administered by DWP. The 14/15 budget allocation for preventing, detecting and handling cases of fraud and error in the benefits system is:-£148.5m. The headcount for FES at the end of January 2015 was 5,057 which is a full time equivalent of 4,502 staff.

Remploy

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on which dates a Minister in his Department last met a former Remploy employee; and when the next such meetings are planned.

Esther McVey: As the Department with responsibility for Remploy, DWP Ministers have met with former Remploy employees

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what means are available to his Department to validate claimant earnings data used in Universal Credit calculations which do not require employees to contact their employer.

Mr Mark Harper: DWP uses earnings data received from HMRC’s PAYE Real Time Information system – much of which will have been received by HMRC in validated form from employers who use the Bacs payment system to corroborate their submissions against real payments.

Unemployed People: Mental Health

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what research he has commissioned into the mental health needs of people claiming jobseeker's allowance.

Mr Mark Harper: We recognise that mental health is a mainstream issue for employment support and are committed to supporting people with common mental health conditions into employment. That is why the Department commissioned research into the effects that unemployment has on the mental health and wellbeing of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants. In 2012 we published The Mental health in context: the national study of work-search and wellbeing report which examined the mental health and wellbeing of JSA claimants.  We also commissioned RAND Europe to undertake research to examine the existing evidence on mental health interventions and propose new approaches to develop the evidence base for future policy development. The report suggested a range of approaches to improve the alignment of mental health and employment services for people with common mental health conditions. With the Department of Health we took forward a number of feasibility pilots based on the recommendations put forward in the report Psychological Wellbeing and Work: Improving Service Provision and Outcomes to explore the most promising and evidence-based approaches to supporting individuals with mental health conditions. These pilots will contribute to a better evidence base for action and will inform our thinking about next steps not only for government, but for all who have a role to play including employers, commissioners, service providers and individuals. We will expand these pilots from summer 2015 and use the learning from the early pilots to support the delivery of the next phase.

Incapacity Benefit

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the recorded primary medical condition was of each incapacity benefit reassessment claimant, where the outcome of the assessment was fit for work, since September 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is shown in the table below. Number of Incapacity Benefits Reassessments with a Fit for Work outcome split into International Classification of Diseases (2010) Condition Groups: 01 October 2013 to 31 March 2014 Disabling condition groupsFit for Work decisionsCertain Infectious and Parasitic Diseases-Neoplasms-Diseases of the Blood and Blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism-Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases-Mental and Behavioural Disorders800Diseases of the Nervous System100Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa-Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process-Diseases of the Circulatory System100Diseases of the Respiratory System-Diseases of the Digestive System-Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous System-Diseases of the Musculoskeletal system and Connective Tissue500Diseases of the Genitourinary System-Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium-Congenital Malformations, Deformations and Chromosomal Abnormalities-Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified300Injury, Poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes100Factors influencing health status and contact with health services-Total2,000  Source: Data in the tables above is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by Atos Healthcare.  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“denotes nil or under 50.2. Totals may not sum due to the rounding method used.3. March 2014 is the latest data available. 4. The outcome recorded is the final DWP Decision Maker’s decision or the recommendation made by the Atos Healthcare Professional where the Decision Maker’s decision is not yet available.5. The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions. In October 2008, ESA replaced IB for new claims. Starting with a trial in October 2010 and reaching a full scale national roll-out in April 2011, existing IB claims began to be phased out, with claimants reassessed to see if they qualify for ESA instead. Special points to note This is a follow on to PQ207639 answered on 1 September 2014 where we gave the data requested up to September 2013. We are now providing the data from October 2013 to March 2014 for IBR cases found fit for work, by disabling condition. http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-09-01/207639/

Housing Benefit

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the caseload onflow onto local housing authority housing benefit was in each of the last three years.

Steve Webb: I have interpreted the question to relate to a time series of the Housing Benefit (HB) local housing allowance (LHA) caseloads. This information is available and published at:https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/  Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

National Parks

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had on the inclusion of proposals to introduce direct elections to National Park authorities through the draft Governance of National Parks (England) and the Broads Bill; and with which people or organisations those discussions have taken place.

Dan Rogerson: The Secretary of State regularly meets with a wide range of people and organisations to discuss a wide number of issues.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total value of contracts her Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Dan Rogerson: Under this Government’s transparency programme, contracts above £10k are published on Contracts Finder which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder since January 2011.   We are unable to provide the data for the previous year as we did not have a central contracts management system in place.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Summary of badger control monitoring during 2014 published by her Department on 18 December 2014, on what scientific evidence and advice the Chief Veterinary Officer based his conclusion that the pilot badger culls in Somerset show that culling can deliver the level of effectiveness required to be confident of achieving disease control benefits.

George Eustice: The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) reviewed all of the effectiveness and humaneness data available from the second year of the badger culls, which were published on 18 December 2014. The level of badger removal in Somerset was assessed against the minimum number to be removed, which was published along with the methodology on 26 August 2014. The CVO also reviewed the level of effort deployed by the cull company and concluded that the cull had been implemented thoroughly across the full area of accessible land.

Peat Bogs

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of how many hectares of peat bog were burned by owners of grouse moors in the last full year for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the amount of carbon released as a result of such burning.

George Eustice: Defra does not collect this data routinely. A Natural England review in 2013 highlighted that little systematic data is collected nationally on the extent and distribution of burning generally, including on moorland in the uplands. It recommended that further work was necessary to obtain better repeatable estimates and the outputs of this work are due to be published later this spring. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is currently funding research to develop an operational framework that will allow us to report on greenhouse gas emissions from peatland management in the UK greenhouse gas inventory. This research will report in 2016.

Gun Sports

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of lead discharged during game bird shooting.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ban the use of lead shot in grouse shooting in order to protect other wildlife.

George Eustice: Defra has not assessed the environmental impact of lead discharged during game bird shooting.   We have no plans to extend the existing Regulations to ban the use of lead shot in England as this would be premature pending the Lead Ammunition Group’s report to Government expected.

Gun Sports

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) pheasants and (b) partridges were imported into the UK for the purposes of game shooting in each of the last five years.

George Eustice: There is no information available on the number of pheasants and partridges imported into the UK for the purposes of game shooting.

River Ribble

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on maintaining flood defences on the River Ribble in each year since 2010.

Dan Rogerson: The following table reflects the Environment Agency’s spending on maintaining channels and flood defences on the River Ribble and its tributaries in the Savick Brook and Preston Asset Management Systems. The 2014/15 figures include spending until February 2015. Financial YearMaintenance Spend (£k)2010 /1118.72011/128.22012/1313.32013/1482014/157.4

Agriculture

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations she has received from farmers affected by the ban on grass cutting and oil seed rape in August seeking a derogation from hedge cutting provisions.

George Eustice: In line with the Common Agricultural Policy regulations, there is a ban on cutting hedges to protect birds during the breeding and rearing season. In England this is 1st March to 31st August inclusive. Defra consulted farming and other interested stakeholders on the cutting ban, and subsequently introduced a derogation that enables hedges to be cut in a field during August if oil seed rape or temporary grass is sown in that field.   Since July 2014, Defra has received 20 representations regarding the hedgerow derogation.

Rural Payments Agency

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of farm registrations have been made (a) online and (b) by telephone to date; and what the average cost has been of each such transaction.

George Eustice: As of 22 February there have been 47,234 customer or agent registrations on the Rural Payments Service, of which there have been (a) 1,802 online registrations (via Verify) and (b) 45,432 registrations by telephone (via the Rural Payments Identity Check). The average cost per registration has not been calculated.

Rural Payments Agency

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received on the time taken to process the registration of basic farm payments; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: Defra and the Rural Payments Agency have not received any specific representations about the time taken to process the registrations on Rural Payments. The average length of a telephone call to the Rural Payments helpline is currently 10 minutes; most calls concern registrations.

Rural Payments Agency

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers who have no digital history have been in contact with the Rural Payments Agency.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency wrote to 12,679 businesses which had no digital history in October 2014. Of those, 3,918 businesses either replied to the letter or have since made contact. Of these, 1,875 businesses are now registered. Additionally 3,033 of those that did not reply to the original letter had registered for Rural Payments as at 22 February.

Rural Payments Agency

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans the Rural Payments Agency has put in place to process late applications before the window for claims closes in mid-May 2015.

George Eustice: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has developed a network of support including the Rural Payments helpline (which can be contacted on 0300 0200 301) which is currently helping farmers and landowners to register and start building their claim before the deadline of 15 May. In addition, there are 50 support centres throughout England where farmers can book a session with an RPA expert who will help them to get online. Similar face to face help is available via a number of trusted third parties, such as charities and local community groups, throughout England.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Staff

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the gender balance is of staff working in the Ministerial office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his Department, the hon. Member for Keighley.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the ethnic composition is of staff working in the Ministerial office of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in his Department, the hon. Member for Keighley.

Kris Hopkins: My Ministerial office is staffed by four full time employees of the Department, two of whom are male and two female. With regard to ethnicity, three of my office are White British and one is British Asian Indian.As the hon. Member will be aware from his time as a special adviser in the Treasury, ministerial private offices are a key link in handling ministerial correspondance, organising the ministerial diaries, supporting ministers on external engagements and visits, conveying Minister's views to officials and overseeing the provision of advice to Ministers, handling communications and policy discussions with other Government Departments, and providing Ministers with general information and views from their Departments.We have cut the administrative costs of private offices by 30% compared to the last administration. The cost of ministerial private offices represents just 0.4% of the Department's overall running costs.

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

Kris Hopkins: DCLG does not centrally collate details of the number of days training undertaken. To collate this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reason his Answer of 23 February 2015 to Question 218656 did not provide the information requested in that Question; and if he will provide the information so requested.

Kris Hopkins: We do not centrally hold the requested information by local authority by year.

EU Grants and Loans

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of funds under the 2007-13 European Regional Development Fund which were committed after May 2010 have not yet been drawn down.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Wales Office

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

Alun Cairns: The average number of formal training days undertaken by staff at the Wales Office in the last three financial years is shown below:  2012-132013-142014-152.23.35.0

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

Alun Cairns: In line with the Civil Service Reform Plan, the Wales Office has recommended since 2013 that each member of staff should be spending at least five days a year on their own learning and development. The days should be used to target those skills that staff most need for their current and future roles and include a range of learning opportunities not just formal training.

HM Treasury

Revenue and Customs

Shabana Mahmood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff at each grade worked in the Transfer Pricing Group of HM Revenue and Customs in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15 to date.

Mr David Gauke: The Transfer Pricing Group is spread around a number of business units. It is made up of Transfer Pricing Specialists and Economists who identify transfer pricing risk and who work cases in partnership with the large business case teams. The Transfer Pricing Group is involved in the annual risk assessment of multi-national enterprises. The yield from transfer pricing enquiries since 2010 is £3,074 million.

Film: Tax Allowances

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what total amount was paid out in Film Tax Relief in each of the last five years; and how many productions qualified for that tax relief in each such year.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking in addition to the Film Tax Relief scheme to promote the production of independent British films.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Film Tax Relief scheme in promoting the production of culturally British films.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent representations his Department has received from the creative industries on Film Tax Relief.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the number of creative productions which have been refused Film Tax Relief in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: In 2013-14, 390 claims for film tax relief were paid for a total amount of £220 million, supporting 327 films made in the UK. The costs and number of claims for each of the last 5 years are shown below. HMRC do not keep statistics of claims for film tax relief which are refused.2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-14No. of claims paid310310390350390Amount paid (£m)130200220200220   These statistics can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405783/FTR_Monitoring_Summary_July_2014.pdf   The relief has been successful in supporting film production in the UK. According to the BFI, UK expenditure on features that commenced principal photography in 2014 was £1,471 million, up from £1,093 million in 2013. In addition to the tax reliefs, the government supports the production of independent British films through a number of other measures, including through the Skills Investment Fund, the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot and the government’s strategic agency for film, the BFI.   The government regularly consults members of the Creative Industries, including on film tax relief. Respondents to the most recent consultation on the scheme in 2013 can be found in the consultation response document: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/264920/PU1603_Visual_effects_summary_of_responses.pdf

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Vernon Coaker: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to review the level of compensation paid to Equitable Life policy holders; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government accepted all the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s findings of government maladministration and established the Equitable Life Payment Scheme. Taking into account of the state of the public finances, to be fair to both policyholders and tax payers, the Government allocated £1.5 billion to fund payments to around one million Equitable Life policyholders. At 31 January 2015 payments surpassing £1 billion have been issued to 896,367 policyholders.   The Government is focussed on making the remaining payments to eligible policyholders and has no plans to increase the levels of funding available to the Scheme.

Pensions: Tax Allowances

Jonathan Edwards: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential savings to the public purse of abolishing higher rate tax relief on private pension contributions.

Mr David Gauke: The estimated exchequer cost arising from income tax relief on contributions made to private pensions, and relief on the investment returns to private pensions in 2012-13 was £34.8bn[1]. Income tax on pensions in payment in the same year was £12.0bn, resulting in a net cost of pensions tax relief of £22.8bn in 2012-13.   The proportion of the cost of income tax relief on pension contributions for varying income ranges and years, is provided in the table below.  % of the cost of income tax relief on contributionsIncome bands2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-15Up to £19,9998%6%5%6%5%5%Between £20,000 and £44,99931%32%35%37%37%36%Between £45,000 and £74,99925%26%28%32%33%34%Between £75,000 and £99,9997%8%8%10%10%10%Between £100,000 and £149,9998%9%9%7%8%8%£150,000 or more20%18%14%8%7%7%All100%100%100%100%100%100%   Estimates are based on Surveys of Personal Incomes with projections for 2012-13 onwards. Projected years are subject to uncertainty.   An estimate of the potential savings to the public purse of abolishing higher rate tax relief on private pension contributions is not available. Revenue effects would depend on how changes were implemented and would likely cause significant behavioural effects.[1] This is published in HMRC National Statistics table PEN6, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/registered-pension-schemes-cost-of-tax-relief  Figures for 2012-13 are the latest available.

Investment: EU Countries

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which organisations his Department consulted on the projects proposed by the Government's submission to the European Commission's Special Task Force on investment in the EU.

Mr David Gauke: HM Treasury consulted with the Departments for Business Innovation and Skills; Communities and Local Government; Culture, Media and Sport; Energy and Climate Change; Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Transport; the Cabinet Office and the Devolved Administrations on the Government’s submission to European Commission’s Special Task Force. The approach to the projects list was agreed by the members of the European Affairs Committee.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what qualifications are required of Pension Wise staff providing (a) telephone and (b) face-to-face advice.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what certificated training Pension Wise staff providing (a) telephone and (b) face-to-face advice will require prior to the launch of that scheme.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have been recruited to deliver the Pension Wise scheme; and what the salary bands are to which those staff have been appointed.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been spent on (a) advertising and (b) recruitment of staff to provide telephone and face-to-face contact for the Pension Wise service since the introduction of that service was announced.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding has been provided to the (a) Pension Advisory Service and (b) Citizens Advice Bureaux for providing the Pension Wise service since the introduction of that service was announced.

Andrea Leadsom: All guidance specialists working for Pension Wise will receive high quality and rigorous training, whether they are delivering guidance face to face or over the phone. They will be required to pass a certificated test to demonstrate they have the necessary technical knowledge and guidance skills to deliver the guidance. The training programme is designed in accordance with FCA standards, and will be accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute, a well-respected professional standards body in the financial services industry.   HM Treasury’s delivery partners, TPAS and Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Northern Ireland are currently recruiting guidance specialists. Recruitment strategies and the setting of pay scales is the responsibility of individual delivery partners.   At Budget 2014, the Chancellor allocated a development fund of up to £20m to establish the initial guidance service. Spending on advertising will be published as part of the government’s Transparency Agenda. Initial funding to The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) and the Citizen Advice organisations will be included in the HM Treasury Accounts to be published in July.

HSBC: USA

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the US (a) Treasury and (b) Justice Department on HSBC's licence to operate in the US since HSBC's prosecution by the US authorities for facilitating money laundering in 2012.

Mr David Gauke: Treasury Ministers and officials regularly discuss a wide range of issues with their counterparts in foreign jurisdictions.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Andrea Leadsom: Since January 2011, central Government Departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the tenders issued and contracts they award with a value over £10,000   www.gov.uk/contracts-finder   In addition, Departments including HM Treasury routinely publish details of transactions over £25,000.

Revenue and Customs

Mark Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2015 to Question 222787, what constitutes appropriate training for HM Revenue and Customs' staff dealing with accelerated payment notices; and what qualifications and training are required of the specialised team responsible for such notices.

Mr David Gauke: HMRC’s staff dealing with Accelerated Payment Notices are trained to ensure that they have a clear understanding of the relevant legislation and the operational processes to be followed under the Accelerated Payments regime. Where necessary, for example if they are dealing with Accelerated Payment Notices to be issued in a specialist area of the tax code such as Stamp Duty Loan Trusts, staff also receive bespoke technical training in that area.

Offshore Industry: Taxation

Alex Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2015 to Question 221932, whether it is his policy that licensed drilling contractors operating in the UK Continental Shelf are eligible for the investment allowance.

Priti Patel: The proposed investment allowance will enable operators subject to the North Sea Supplementary Charge to tax to reduce the proportion of their profits subject to that charge. Drilling contractors operating in the North Sea do not generally fall within the North Sea ringfence tax regime and hence are already exempt from the Supplementary Charge.

Tax Allowances

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of raising personal tax allowances by 10 per cent.

Mr David Gauke: This Government has increased the personal allowance from £6,475 to £10,600 over this Parliament. No estimate has been made of a 10% increase in personal tax allowances. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do publish a ready reckoner of changes to the main rates and thresholds of UK taxes. This does not take into account behavioural change. This is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/403375/20141203_Illustrativechangesbulletinupdated.pdf.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are liable to pay income tax at the rates of (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 40 and (d) 45 per cent.

Mr David Gauke: Estimates of the number of taxpayers in each income tax rate band are published in HM Revenue and Custom's (HMRC) National Statistics table 2.1 which is available on the internet at the following address:   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/404149/Table_2.1.pdf

Patents: EU Action

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from (a) the EU Commission and (b) other EU Member States on the patent box legislation.

Mr David Gauke: The UK is fully engaged with EU Commission and other EU Member States through the work of the EU Code of Conduct Group in their work on the UK Patent Box.   I refer the Hon Gentleman to the joint statement on 11 November 2014 agreed by the UK and Germany on the international governance of preferential IP regimes including the UK Patent Box. Parliament was informed of this in a Written Ministerial Statement delivered on 2nd December 2014. This proposal has been submitted to, and subsequently endorsed by, the EU Code of Conduct Group along with the OECD Forum on Harmful Tax Practices.

Tax Avoidance

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce legislation to make partners from accountancy firms ineligible for HM Treasury appointments if a tax tribunal or court finds that tax avoidance schemes marketed by such firms are unlawful.

Mr David Gauke: All senior staff are appointed in line with the public appointments code.

Renewable Energy

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Big Six energy companies about community energy co-operatives in the last 12 months.

Priti Patel: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.   Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

Overseas Trade: Taxation

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on amending or abolishing the import/export tax regime.

Mr David Gauke: EU customs legislation requires that VAT and, in some cases, import duties are payable on goods when imported from outside the EU, (including by post). Most goods imported with a value of £15 or less are exempt from import VAT. When the value of goods exceeds the limit, import VAT is charged at the rate which applies to similar goods sold in the UK.  If this tax were not applied to imports, there would be an unfair advantage to foreign business over UK trade which is required to charge VAT on its sales no matter the value. Customs duty is payable when the value of the goods exceeds £135, but is waived if the amount, when calculated is less than £9. The rate of duty applicable to each category of goods is set by the EU during world trade negotiations and applied to all goods imported into the UK. The UK does not currently apply any export taxes/duties.

Minimum Wage

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many notices of underpayment of national minimum wage were issued in respect of employers with (a) zero to nine, (b) 10 to 49, (c) 50 to 249 and (d) more than 250 employees in each year since 2009-10.

Mr David Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government will also bring in primary legislation as soon as possible so that the maximum £20,000 penalty can apply to each underpaid worker.   HM Revenue and Customs (HMRCV) do not keep data on numbers of employees in a format that would enable provision of the statistics requested.

National Insurance Contributions

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was raised in revenue from employers of apprentices under the age of 25 in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) England who were required to pay secondary Class 1 employer national insurance contributions on earnings up to the upper earnings limit in each of the last five years.

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employers of apprentices under the age of 25 who are required to pay secondary Class 1 (employer) national insurance contributions on earnings up to the upper earnings limit there were in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales (d) Northern Ireland and (e) England in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: At Autumn Statement 2014, the Chancellor announced employers of apprentices under the age of 25, from April 2016, will no longer be required to pay secondary Class 1 (employer) National Insurance contributions (NICs) on earnings up to the Upper Earnings Limit (UEL), for those employees.   There are estimated to be around 180,000 employers offering such apprenticeships in the UK. The tax base on this measure was estimated on an individual apprentice basis, using the 2012-13 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings along with administrative data on the number of apprenticeships from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. An estimate of total revenue or a breakdown by region for these employers is not available.

Revenue and Customs: Preston

Mark Hendrick: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are currently employed at the Tax Credit Office in Preston; and what the projected staffing level at that office is for (a) 2016 and (b) 2017.

Priti Patel: As at 31 January 2015, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employed a total of 2044 staff within its Preston Tax Credit Office site. This is expected to increase by about 350 in 2016 and 2017.

Wines

Tim Loughton: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the value of wine sales to pubs, bars and restaurants in the UK.

Priti Patel: Information on the value of wine sales to pubs, bars and restaurants in the UK is not available as HM Revenue and Customs do not collect this data.   HM Revenue and Customs publish data on receipts from duties on wine that are released for consumption and data on quantities of wine released for consumption in the monthly alcohol bulletin: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Pages/TaxAndDutybulletins.aspx

Children: Day Care

Alison McGovern: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average cost of providing childcare accounts for households in receipt of tax-free childcare will be per child; and how much has been set aside for the annual administration and running costs of the tax-free childcare system.

Priti Patel: I refer the Hon. Lady to the Impact Assessment, which sets out that HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are working closely together to ensure that HMRC is funded to deliver Tax-Free Childcare in a way that provides value for money for the taxpayer. The costs of the scheme are yet to be finalised and will be confirmed once the full details have been settled with the appointed account provider for the scheme.

Whisky: Excise Duties

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the effect of alcohol excise duty rates on domestic consumption of Scotch whisky.

Priti Patel: No estimate has been made of the effect of alcohol excise duty rates on domestic consumption of Scotch Whisky. For the estimated effect on spirits and alcohol of the changes to alcohol excise duty rates at Budget 2014 I refer the hon Member to Lord Newby’s answer of 8th April 2014 HL6317 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140408w0001.htm#wa_st_5

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much the Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil has spent on legal advice to date.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 25 February 2015



The Office of Unconventional Gas and Oil has spent £2,760 to date on legal advice.

Wind Power

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress his Department has made on its investigation into the practice of de-rating wind turbines for the purposes of the feed-in tariff; and when he expects to publish the conclusions of that investigation.

Matthew Hancock: Work to investigate the extent and impact of de-rating of wind turbines is underway. This includes work to gather project-cost data and close involvement with the industry to build a robust evidence base. Once the investigation has concluded, its findings will support decisions taken as part of the periodic FITs review in the summer.

Electricity: Prices

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department has taken with Ofgem to achieve a Price Average Reference (PAR) of 1MWh in future Capacity Market auctions; and when he expects that PAR to be implemented.

Matthew Hancock: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to Question 224767.Under their Electricity Balancing Significant Code Review, Ofgem have committed to implement a 1MWh Price Average Reference (PAR) measure for imbalance (“cash out”) prices. Although this does not relate directly to the Capacity Market, Ofgem intend to implement changes to cash out ahead of 2018/19:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87782/electricitybalancingsignificantcodereview-finalpolicydecision.pdf.It is likely that expected changes to the Price Average Reference will already have been factored into Capacity Market auction bids.

Electricity: Prices

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on consumers' electricity bills of reducing the Price Average Reference to 1MWh by 2018.

Matthew Hancock: The information requested is a matter for Ofgem.

Electricity: Prices

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of reducing the Price Average Reference to 1MWh by 2018 on the cost of running future Capacity Market auctions.

Matthew Hancock: Under their Electricity Balancing Significant Code Review, Ofgem have committed to implementing a move to a 1MWh Price Average Reference (PAR) measure by 2018/19, the first delivery year by the Capacity Market:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87782/electricitybalancingsignificantcodereview-finalpolicydecision.pdf.It is therefore expected that this modification has been already factored into Capacity Market auction bids, by current and potential future participants.Other things being equal, a more cost-reflective wholesale electricity price would be expected to lower bids in the CM; greater revenues earned through the electricity market would offset revenues sought via the Capacity Market. Please see Ofgem’s Impact Assessment on implementation of EBSCR changes for further details:https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87787/electricitybalancingsignificantcodereview-finalpolicydecisionimpactassessment.pdf.

Wind Power

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the cost to energy bill payers of all subsidies to wind turbines in the (a) >100 to 500kW and (b) >500kW to 1.5MW feed-in tariff bands in each year since 2010.

Matthew Hancock: DECC does not hold the figures in the form requested.

Wind Power

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will estimate the additional cost to energy bill payers of the feed-in tariff scheme arising from the practice of de-rating wind turbines.

Matthew Hancock: Work to investigate the extent and impact, of de-rating of wind turbines is underway. This includes work to gather project-cost data and close involvement with the industry to build a robust evidence base. Once the investigation has concluded, its findings will support decisions taken as part of the periodic FITs review in the summer.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Amber Rudd: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 25 February 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The information requested is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost. Contracts of the Department are published on the Cabinet Office Website which can be found at:www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk.The Department would be able to provide further contract information by narrowing the scope, if specific procurement projects were identified.As an indication of departmental spend our financial records show that the following payments have been made to 3rd party suppliers:April 2013 to March 2014: £184,784,757.64; April 2014 to January 2015: £147,863,946.28.

Amber Rudd: The information requested is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost. Contracts of the Department are published on the Cabinet Office Website which can be found at:www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk.The Department would be able to provide further contract information by narrowing the scope, if specific procurement projects were identified.As an indication of departmental spend our financial records show that the following payments have been made to 3rd party suppliers:April 2013 to March 2014: £184,784,757.64; April 2014 to January 2015: £147,863,946.28.

Cabinet Office

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

Mr Francis Maude: We want to ensure that the Civil Service is ready to meet the challenges of the twenty first century.Through our programme of Civil Service Reform the Government is working to address long-standing weaknesses in four key skills areas: commercial, programme and project delivery, digital delivery, and leading and managing change across the Civil Service.Civil Servants are encouraged to take at least five days learning a year but the key point is to ensure that civil servants have the particular skills they need to do their jobs well. The Functional Heads, most of whom report to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service, will set the learning curricula for their functions.Most learning is now provided by Civil Service Learning.Complete central records are not held on the number of days training, training budgets or training expenditure.

Electronic Government

Jason McCartney: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to stop websites charging for (a) the European Health Insurance Card and (b) other services provided for free by the Government.

Mr Francis Maude: The Government is working with search engine providers to address the problem of websites which are misleading to the public. The Government is also leading work with other bodies such as the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) to raise public awareness of this issue and ensure enforcement action is taken where appropriate.Gov.uk, the Government's single web domain, is the best place for the public to find information on Government services.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr Francis Maude: This Government is committed to transparency and, since January 2011, central government departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on contracts above the value of £10,000. It can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder.All payments made by the Cabinet Office over £25,000 are published on data.gov.uk

Drugs: North West

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many drug-related crimes were reported in (a) Preston, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in each year since 2010.

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many incidents of domestic violence were reported in (a) Preston, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in each year since 2010.

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many knife crimes were reported in (a) Preston, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in each year since 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Members - Crime
(PDF Document, 110.69 KB)

Conditions of Employment

Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many employees were on zero-hours contracts in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley local authority area, (c) South Yorkshire, (d) Yorkshire and the Humber and (e) England in each month since May 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Zero Hour Contracts
(PDF Document, 137.37 KB)

Government Departments: Accountancy

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government plans to publish results of its trial of open book accounting; and what plans the Government has to mandate open book accounting for contracts.

Mr Francis Maude: We will announce in due course guidance on the proportionate use of open book techniques, including conclusions from our internal study on open book accounting.

Government Departments: Procurement

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will assess the extent to which departments take account of past performance when re-tendering or contracting for new services.

Mr Francis Maude: The Government Procurement Policy Note 09/12 ‘Taking Account of Bidders’ Past Performance’, issued in November 2012, applies to all departments.

Unemployment

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the rate of unemployment among people aged (a) 16 to 24 and (b) 25 and above has been in each quarter since January 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Unemployment
(PDF Document, 125.7 KB)

Northampton Hospital

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) live births and (b) stillbirths have been recorded at Northampton General Hospital in each year since 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Live Births and Stillbirths
(PDF Document, 101.25 KB)

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many incidences of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer were diagnosed in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14; and what proportion of cancer deaths were attributable to GI cancer in those years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Cancer Deaths
(PDF Document, 304.18 KB)

Universal Credit

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Table 10 (1) of the Office of National Statistics' Labour Market Statistics release, when the Indicative Representation of the Claimant Count adjusting for Universal Credit caseload will become an official statistic.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Unemployment
(PDF Document, 105.29 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on training in each of the last three financial years.

Mrs Helen Grant: The total spent on Staff Training over the past 3 years is as follows:2014/15 £174,347**2013/14 £225,2892012/13 £133,106** current to 31st Dec 2014 (Figures are net of recoverable VAT)

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his Department's training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

Mrs Helen Grant: DCMS training budget over the last 3 financial years: Year Budget Financial YearBudget2014/15£250,0002013/14£315,0002012/13£315,000

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

Mrs Helen Grant: In line with the Civil Service wide commitment, DCMS provides guidance to staff and managers encouraging them to spend at least 5 days a year on their learning and development.

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

Mrs Helen Grant: We do not have this information. Records of completed learning and development activities are kept by staff as part of their performance development plans and discussions with line managers.

Telephone Operator Services

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on simplification and clarification of tariffs charged by private providers for directory inquiries; and what information his Department holds on whether mobile telephone inquirers have been overcharged by directory inquiry providers.

Mr Edward Vaizey: I meet regularly with Ofcom to discuss a variety of issues. Ofcom is concerned about unclear telephone charges and is introducing rules which make the cost of calling 118 numbers clearer for telephone users.  Under changes coming into effect this summer, both telecoms and 118 service providers will have to be clear on what they each charge for 118 calls. The costs of calls will be split out into an access charge and a service charge so consumers can compare costs for calling different 118 services – and see where their money is going.

Procurement

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mrs Helen Grant: Please find the information in the table below:Financial YearTotal value of contracts with private sector providers2009/10£29,719,889.292010/11£24,872,636.042011/12£32,061,107.632012/13£40,112,015.222013/14£30,847,866.30

Broadband: Rural Areas

Heather Wheeler: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on delivering broadband to rural areas.

Mr Edward Vaizey: On 9 February 2015 the Government announced that 2 million premises have been passed by its Superfast Broadband Programme, meaning that superfast broadband is now available to almost 80% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010.

Broadband: Churches

Heather Wheeler: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on delivering (a) broadband and (b) wifi to church halls.

Mr Edward Vaizey: On 9 February 2015 the Government announced that 2 million premises have been passed by its Superfast Broadband Programme, meaning that superfast broadband is now available to almost 80% of UK premises, up from 45% in 2010. Church halls which are included within this coverage will be able to gain access to superfast broadband services.Small and medium sized enterprises, including places of worship which are registered as charities, are eligible for a grant of up to £3,000 under the Government’s Broadband Connection Vouchers scheme which runs in 22 UK cities. The Chancellor recently announced that £40 million will be made available to extend the scheme to more cities from April 2015.

Broadband

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what additional funding his Department is making available to ensure that the remaining 10 per cent of premises get superfast broadband access.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government has allocated £250m funding to increase superfast broadband from 90 per cent to 95 per cent of premises by 2017, with local match funding, as part of phase 2 of the Superfast Broadband programme. The Government has also created a £10 million fund to invest in pilot projects to explore options for delivery to the remaining premises.

Betting Shops

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Safe Bet Alliance on betting shop staff safety.

Mrs Helen Grant: The Government is committed to tackling crime and ensuring the safety of staff and customers in betting shops and welcomes the Safe Bet Alliance initiative. The SBA is a collaborative initiative which includes the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) and Metropolitan Police among others. I have had numerous meetings with the ABB to discuss a range of issues including gambling related harm, crime and staff safety.

Football

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps he has taken to support community football teams.

Mrs Helen Grant: The Government supports community clubs in a number of ways, including through Sport England’s Inspired Facilities, Protected Playing Fields, and Flood Relief funds. We are also investing with the Premier League and the Football Association over £100 million to the Football Foundation’s Facilities Fund over the next three years to improving grassroots facilities at clubs across the country.

Telecommunications: Rural Areas

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the combined effect of poor mobile phone signal and poor broadband provision on rural communities and businesses.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government recognises the importance of a good broadband and mobile connectivity to rural communities and businesses. We are meeting the challenge by:Rolling out superfast broadband to over 40,000 premises a week and investing £10m to develop options for the most remote areas;Tackling mobile partial not-spots through an agreement with mobile network operators that is legally binding and guarantees £5bn commercial investment by 2017. Each operator will cover 90% of the UK’s landmass, halving partial not-spots and cutting complete not-spots by almost two-thirds;Investing £150 million to bring mobile services to remote areas of the UK with no mobile coverage.

Press Freedom

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to uphold media freedoms.

Mr Edward Vaizey: A free media is essential to the health of our democracy and this Government has always been clear it is vitally important to uphold that freedom. We have introduced a new system of independent press self-regulation. However, it is for the press to decide whether they wish to sign up.

Department of Health

Clacton Hospital

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that more diagnostic tests are carried out at Clacton Hospital.

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests at Clacton Hospital.

Jane Ellison: The provision of local health services is a matter for local National Health Service organisations. NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) advises that Clacton Hospital provides some diagnostic testing for the local population, but the variety of tests that can be effectively provided is limited. More specialised diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging or invasive tests such as angiography or endoscopy, have to be carried out at Colchester Hospital. They are not available at Clacton Hospital either because of a lack of physical space for the facilities within the hospital or because it is not clinically appropriate for the tests to be carried out in a community hospital. Clacton Hospital has no clinical theatre space. No emergency medical cover is available should a patient become seriously unwell following an invasive diagnostic test.   The CCG states that demand for diagnostic services is exceptionally high and it is considering how they could be provided within community settings to reduce waiting times. This might include direct access to some tests through general practitioner (GP) referral. This would enable the GP to receive a definitive test result for the patient, before referring on to secondary care where necessary. The CCG believes this would help to reduce waiting times and make access to the service easier for local people.

Dietary Supplements

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions took place at his most recent meeting with the European Health Commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis; whether he discussed (a) the likely timelines for the future setting of maximum permitted levels for nutrients under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive and (b) the potential extension of the scope of that Directive to include supplements containing ingredients of plant, fish and animal origin at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumer choice represented by the European Commission's plans to bring forward the setting of maximum premitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements through the food supplements directive.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on British businesses in the health and nutrition sector of the European Commission's plans to implement maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements through the food supplements directive.

Jane Ellison: No discussions have yet taken place with Commissioner Andriukaitis. The new European Commission has not announced any renewed plans to implement Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive and the Government has not recently made an assessment of potential effects of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals, either on consumer choice, or on British businesses. Our advice to United Kingdom manufacturers on safe daily dose levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements is based on the report of the UK’s Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals. The industry has supported the use of these levels and the report is also used by some other member states as advice for safe upper levels.

Hospitals: North East

Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in (a) Hartlepool and (b) the North East had to wait on trolleys for more than 12 hours to be admitted to a hospital ward in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: Data from November 2010 onwards is available in the NHS England weekly accident and emergency (A&E) performance reports, which are published online at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/   Prior to this period A&E data was collected quarterly from 2001-02 and this can be found at:   http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/AccidentandEmergency/index.htm

Tobacco: Packaging

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 132 of the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the case C-491/01 - British American Tobacco (Investments) and Imperial Tobacco, 10 December 2002, if he will ensure that legislative proposals he plans to bring forward on the standardised packaging of tobacco will meet the standard set down in that judgment for sufficient space to be provided on that packaging to affix other material, in particular concerning trademarks.

Jane Ellison: In coming to its decision to proceed with the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Regulations, the Government has given careful consideration to all the legal issues, including the implications of relevant European case law.

Dental Services

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to review the regulatory framework for the dental profession.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Law Commissions’ completed a review of the regulation of all health and social care professionals including dentists and reported in April 2014. They made 125 recommendations to improve the legislative framework and we published the Government response on 29 January 2015, accepting the vast majority of these recommendations.   The Government remains committed to legislate on this important issue when parliamentary time allows and are working closely with the regulatory bodies and the Professional Standards Authority to build on the important work the Law Commissions have done.   In the meantime we are taking forward a section 60 Order to amend the Dentists Act 1984 to make changes to the General Dental Council’s (GDC’s) investigation stage fitness to practise processes. A consultation has recently been undertaken on these measures which will be introduced subject to Parliamentary approval. It is expected the provisions should lead to the swifter resolution of complaints, as ultimately they will improve the efficiency of the GDC’s fitness to practise processes, whilst also enhancing patient protection and public confidence in dental regulation.

Tobacco: Packaging

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration he gave to owners and other beneficiaries of intellectual property rights relating to tobacco products in deciding to bring forward legislative proposals for standardised packaging.

Jane Ellison: The Government has given careful consideration to all of the wider aspects that relate to standardised packaging of tobacco, including intellectual property rights.   The Government has also published an impact assessment, assessing the costs and benefits of the policy. This can be found at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/standardised-packaging-of-tobacco-products-draft-regulations

Food

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent meetings he and other Ministers of his Department have had with representatives of the food industry.

Jane Ellison: Details of all Ministerial meetings with external parties are published in arrears on the Department’s website. The latest publication which covers meetings between January and March 2014 can be found on the Department’s website:   www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-external-meetings-2014

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2013-14.

Jane Ellison: Figures for the number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2013-14 are not yet available. The National Diabetes Audit for 2013-14, which will contain the information requested, is due to be published in late 2015.

Bone Cancer

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma in 2014.

Jane Ellison: The latest data currently available is for cancer diagnoses in 2012.   In 2012 there were 85 cases of Ewing’s sarcoma diagnosed in England, of which 59 were Ewing’s sarcoma of the bone, and 26 were extra-skeletal Ewing’s sarcoma (i.e. soft tissue).

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of people with diabetes receiving regular checks of their blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

Jane Ellison: Delivery of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended care processes for diabetes continues to be incentivised through the quality and outcomes framework. The latest data shows a 60% completion rate of all the 8 measurable NICE care processes, a 5% improvement on 2010.   The diabetes profiles, published by Public Health England, enable local clinical commissioning groups to compare their performance with others on controlling blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels and so identify where action needs to take place to improve.

Obesity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were diagnosed for the first time as obese in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: The Health and Social Care Information Centre does not hold data on how many people were diagnosed as obese for the first time.

Health Services: Ealing

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps NHS North West London took to consult residents of Ealing local authority area whose first language is not English when drawing up its Shaping a Healthier Future plan.

Jane Ellison: We are advised by NHS England, that NHS in North West London, through its programme Shaping a Healthier Future, undertook a number of activities (particularly in the summer of 2012) to ensure effective consultation with residents across the area, including in Ealing, whose first language is not English.   The engagement was conducted by a post holder who speaks Urdu and Punjabi, two of Ealing’s most common non-English languages and included: working through existing voluntary and community networks within the area, such as the voluntary services councils, health and wellbeing boards, refugee/Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and others; developing links with individual groups and communities interested and possibly affected by the proposed changes; using local authority forums and existing meetings to engage groups and communities; and engagement through commissioning organisations.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of his Department's diabetes spending is on prevention.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of his Department's expenditure on diabetes is spent on complications arising from diabetes.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of his Department's expenditure on diabetes is spent on regular treatment of that condition.

Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally.   NHS England has prioritised the prevention of diabetes and will make us the first country to implement at scale a diabetes prevention programme, modelled on our own and international proven experience.

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department is committed to developing its staff. Individuals and local teams arrange a variety of developmental activities, including formal training courses. The number of hours/days for each individual is not recorded centrally. To gather this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Prescription Drugs

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many private prescriptions for (a) benzodiazepines, (b) z drugs and (c) antidepressants were issued in 2013; and whether such private prescriptions are included in the analysis by the NHS of prescription costs.

George Freeman: Information is held by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) on the numbers of original private prescriptions for controlled drugs that are listed in Schedules 2 or 3 to the Misuse of Drug Regulations 2001 (as amended) (“the 2001 Regulations”) and dispensed in the community in England by NHS community pharmacies. These pharmacies submit regular returns to the NHSBSA for monitoring purposes only with no cost information collected.   No benzodiazepine drugs are listed in Schedule 2 to the 2001 Regulations. The benzodiazepines, flunitrazepam, midazolam and temazepam are listed in Schedule 3 to the 2001 Regulations. In 2013, the NHSBSA recorded 3,021 private prescriptions for these drugs, as defined within the British National Formulary Section 4.1.1 Hypnotics, Section 4.8.2 Drugs used in status epilepticus and Section 15.1.4 Sedative and analgesic peri-operative drugs. Other benzodiazepine drugs are listed in Schedule 4 to the 2001 Regulations. No “Z” drugs or antidepressants are listed in Schedules 2 or 3 to the 2001 Regulations.

Hearing Impairment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress NICE has made on establishing Quality Standards on adult hearing loss.

George Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Mr Roger Godsiff) on 4 February to Question 222487.

Training

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department is committed to developing its staff and encourages staff to take five days learning a year. It does this in a variety of ways including staff communications; learning at work weeks and through line-managers.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what mechanisms the care.data programme board will be accountable to (a) Parliament and (b) patients.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The care.data Programme Board represents a range of organisations and areas, including patients and the public. For further information on the care.data Programme Board, the full Terms of Reference are available online at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/tsd/care-data/prog-board/   Tim Kelsey chairs the care.data Programme Board in his role as Senior Responsible Owner. Tim Kelsey is accountable to Simon Stevens and the NHS England Board, as care.data is a programme funded by NHS England, and to Will Cavendish, as Informatics Accountable Officer (IAO) at the Department of Health, who has accountability for ensuring all national health and care informatics programmes deliver successfully.   The Accounting Officer (AO) for the Department has overall responsibility for the design, funding and regulation of the health and care system. The IAO carries out a similar function for those aspects of the health and care system which relate to the provision of information technology and the use of data, acting on behalf of the AO and, as appropriate, the Secretary of State to put in place sponsorship processes for each of the Department’s arm’s length bodies (ALBs) for delivery of relevant commitments in each ALB’s policy and legislative framework.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's leaflet Better information means better care, published January 2014, and the oral evidence to the Health Committee of Dame Fiona Caldicott, 21 January 2015 to Question 705, what steps he is taking to ensure that if patients choose to opt out of care.data this will not have any adverse effect on (a) bowel screening, (b) e-referrals and (c) other services.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the oral evidence to the Health Committee of Dame Fiona Caldicott, 21 January 2015 to Question 705, what assessment he has made of whether patients who opt out of the care.data scheme will be excluded from NHS services such as bowel screening and e-referrals.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that patients who opt-out of the care.data programme are not excluded from certain NHS services before that programme is fully implemented.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that patients who have opted out of the care.data scheme with a type 2 objection will not be excluded from NHS services such as bowel screening and e-referrals.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The process for objecting (‘opting out’) will be communicated during the care.data pathfinder stage and will apply to the use of identifiable general practitioner data for purposes beyond direct care. The care.data Programme team is working closely with clinical commissioning group pathfinder practices to ensure that it is understood that the opt-out should not impact upon the sharing of information for direct care.   The care.data Programme team is working closely with the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), NHS England and the Department in relation to ‘type 2 objections’. Appropriate communications will be agreed before starting communication activity in pathfinder areas.   For those people who have made an existing ‘type 2 objection’, the HSCIC is committed to ensuring no patient suffers any adverse impact on their direct care through an inappropriate implementation of an objection. This means that information flows to support services such as cancer screening, electronic prescriptions and e-referrals are currently flowing and will continue to do so.

Heart Diseases: Older People

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the UK National Screening Committee's policy on screening people over 65 for atrial fibrillation.

Jane Ellison: In 2014 the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) recommended that screening people aged 65 and over for atrial fibrillation should not be offered. This is because the evidence did not show that those identified by screening would benefit from early diagnosis. Ministers have accepted the UK NSC’s recommendation.   As part of its three yearly recommendation review process, the UK NSC will review this recommendation in 2017/18.

NHS: Disclosure of Information

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Freedom to speak up?, the report by Sir Robert Francis QC, published on 11 February 2015, what timetable he has set for the creation of a new support scheme to help NHS whistleblowers who have found themselves out of a job as a result of raising concerns.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Freedom to speak up?, the report by Sir Robert Francis QC, published on 11 February 2015, what timescale he has set for NHS trusts to appoint whistleblowing guardians.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Freedom to speak up?, the report by Sir Robert Francis QC, published on 11 February 2015, when he plans to take steps to ensure that NHS whistleblowers are not discriminated against when they apply for other jobs.

Dr Daniel Poulter: On 11 February, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State accepted in principle all the recommendations made by Sir Robert Francis following his Freedom to Speak Up review. We will shortly be consulting on how best to implement these recommendations. In addition we plan to bring forward measures to provide legislative protection for whistleblowers applying for a job in the National Health Service. With Opposition support, this could be in place before Parliament is prorogued.   The implementation of Sir Roberts’ recommendations will see a programme of action to help foster an open and learning culture in the NHS backed by local freedom to speak up guardians and a new national whistleblowing guardian. Individual trusts may wish to begin implementing some of these recommendations right away. Local action and responsibility will be at the heart of bringing about a culture where reporting of concerns is valued and encouraged.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Mr Ronnie Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many agency nurses were employed by Northumbria Healthcare between 2011 and 2013.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department does not collect data on numbers of agency nurses working in the National Health Service.   We have written to Brian Flood, Chair of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, informing him of the hon. Member’s enquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department is providing to research into the treatment of Crohn's disease.

Jane Ellison: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds a range of research relating to treatment of Crohn’s disease.   The NIHR has awarded nearly £1.5 million over five years to August 2018 for a research professorship at the University of Oxford. This is focussed on re-defining Crohn’s disease at a molecular level to identify new biomarkers and therapies.   The NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme is seeking to commission a systematic review looking at whether patients can be identified who may need early intensive treatment in Crohn’s disease.   The NIHR Clinical Research Network is currently recruiting patients to six studies relating to treatment of Crohn’s disease.   The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including Crohn’s disease. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the meningitis B vaccine to be made available on the NHS; and what steps he is taking to make progress on price negotiations with Novartis for that vaccine.

Jane Ellison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2015 to Question 222863.

Multiple Sclerosis

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that multiple sclerosis is detected at the earliest possible stage.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that people with multiple sclerosis receive adequate treatment, care and support.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care, updated in October 2014, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The guidance makes a range of recommendations on drug based treatments for MS, but also highlights the importance of involving professionals who can meet the needs of the patient in the best way, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.   With regard to early diagnosis, MS is a difficult condition to diagnose as a number of the symptoms such as fatigue, depression or dizziness may be unrelated. The guidance sets out a number of initial presentations that clinicians should be aware of when looking for signs of MS. It also recommends a number of assessments a clinician should make, including testing of vision and blood tests before referral to a consultant neurologist, who can confirm or exclude a diagnosis of MS, subject to investigation.

Wines

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of adults in the UK who drink wine.

Jane Ellison: The published table 2.3 in the Health and Social Care Information Centre, Statistics in Alcohol England, 2013 report, summarises proportions of different types of alcohol consumed in Great Britain according to a self-reported survey in 2009.   The report is attached and is also available at:   www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB10932/alc-eng-2013-rep.pdf 



Statistics on Alcohol England 2013
(PDF Document, 959.03 KB)

Prostate Cancer: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the BMA and other medical bodies on when treatment resistant prostate cancer drugs will be available in light of GPR158.

George Freeman: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has had no such discussions.

Hospitals: Hygiene

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals meet each star level of the Food Standards Agency hygiene standards.

Jane Ellison: The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is a Food Standards Agency/local authority partnership initiative operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides transparency to consumers on hygiene standards in places where they eat or buy food. A different scheme with similar aims operates in Scotland.   The ratings range from ‘0’ at the bottom to ‘5’ at the top and reflect the findings of local authority inspections undertaken to check that food establishments are meeting legal requirements.   Ratings are published at:   www.food.gov.uk/ratings   It should be noted that hospitals are included in a wider category which also covers establishments such as day nurseries and care homes and cannot be separated out. The profile of ratings for this category is shown in the table and highlights that the vast majority have hygiene standards that are generally satisfactory or better.   FHRS RatingHospitals, childcare and caring premisesAll rated establishmentsNumber%Number%5 - very good26,56377.7234,79858.64 - good5,63316.588,75322.13 - generally satisfactory1,4674.348,15812.02 - improvement required2420.712,2453.11 - major improvement required2550.715,3943.80 - urgent improvement required60.01,6140.4Total with rating of 3 and above33,66398.5371,70992.7Total Rated34,166100.0400,962100.0

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on phasing out all block contracts for mental health services; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Monitor and NHS England are responsible for the National Tariff Payment System arrangements for 2015/16 and have given a signal to commissioners and mental health providers to move away from unaccountable block contract agreements, where these are not in the best interests of patients. They are also encouraging locally agreed payment arrangements for mental health services that are transparent, reflect the needs of local communities and incentivise innovative models of care that improve the quality of services and outcomes for patients. Monitor and NHS England have been working with the mental health sector to include example payment models for mental health in the National Tariff Payment System arrangements for 2015/16 to support them to do this.

Mental Health Services: Children

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects that the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Dataset will start publishing data; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Multiple sclerosis: management of multiple sclerosis in primary and secondary care, updated in October 2014, sets out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The guidance makes a range of recommendations on drug based treatments for MS, but also highlights the importance of involving professionals who can meet the needs of the patient in the best way, such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.   With regard to early diagnosis, MS is a difficult condition to diagnose as a number of the symptoms such as fatigue, depression or dizziness may be unrelated. The guidance sets out a number of initial presentations that clinicians should be aware of when looking for signs of MS. It also recommends a number of assessments a clinician should make, including testing of vision and blood tests before referral to a consultant neurologist, who can confirm or exclude a diagnosis of MS, subject to investigation.

Gastrointestinal System

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients have timely and direct access to (a) gastroenterologists and (b) other specialist clinicians.

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient (a) specialist clinician trainees and (b) gastroenterologist trainees in the health education and training system.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Health Education England (HEE) is responsible for workforce planning and education commissioning activity to ensure that the National Health Service in England has available a future workforce in the right numbers, with the right skills, values and behaviours.   In December 2014, HEE published its second national Workforce Plan for England for the period 2015/16 which is built upon the needs of local employers, commissioners and other stakeholders. The priorities in the plan are the priorities of the NHS, identified locally and nationally by employers, professional bodies and other stakeholders.   National recruitment into gastroenterology training posts in 2013 and 2014 achieved 100% fill-rate. There have been no reductions in the planned commissions of gastroenterologists for 2015/16.   The following table shows the number of full-time equivalent doctors and gastroenterologists, excluding locums, working in hospital and community health services in England.   Full-Time EquivalentMay 2010November 2014Change May 2010 to November 2014 All Doctors95,421105,0019,58010.0%of which, with specialty of:Gastroenterology1,7882,30952129.1%Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, Monthly Workforce Statistics, Nov 2014

NHS: Legal Costs

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average legal costs to the NHS of bringing legal proceedings against doctors who have been excluded from their hospitals were in each of the last three years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Maintaining High Professional Standards sets out the agreed procedure for legal involvement in National Health Service disciplinary proceedings against doctors, but no information is held centrally on the legal costs.

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase targeted screening for gastrointestinal cancers to better target those most at risk.

Jane Ellison: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria. It is for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) or its accredited guideline producing bodies to recommend care and testing of people at high risk.   The UK NSC supports the work of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme which is offered to both men and women aged between 60-74 years, every two years and is one of the first national bowel cancer screening programmes worldwide.   The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme has introduced a new screening test, where both men and women are invited for 'bowel scope screening' around the time of their 55th birthday. Bowel scope screening is an examination called 'flexible sigmoidoscopy' which looks inside the lower bowel. The aim is to prevent bowel cancer by finding and treating any polyps which may develop into bowel cancer if left untreated. Bowel scope screening is an addition to the existing NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, and is a one off examination which will play a significant role in preventing bowel cancer. The pilot was carried out in six sites (South of Tyne, West Kent, Norwich, St Marks, Wolverhampton and Surrey). All bowel screening centres are expected to offer bowel scope screening by the end of 2016 and the programme is on target to reach the Secretary of State’s commitment to have Bowel Scope Screening in 60% of centres around England by the end of March 2015.   The Bowel Screening Advisory Committee who advise on the development of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme, met earlier this month. It was agreed a working party will be formed to look into the implications of including those who have a condition with a raised risk of colorectal cancer (such as Lynch Syndrome) to be screened under the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many gastrointestinal cancers were diagnosed in emergency and urgent care settings in each year since 2010-11.

Jane Ellison: Information is not available in the format requested. Figures for 2010-11 will be published in June 2015.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to introduce a national immunisation programme for meningitis B.

Jane Ellison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 February 2015 to Question 222863.

Continuing Care

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of applications for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding has been successful in each year in which that funding has been available.

Norman Lamb: The Department does not collect data on the proportion of NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) assessments where individuals have been found to be eligible.   Until 31 March 2013, quarterly data on the number of people in receipt of NHS CHC funding was collected and published on the Department’s website at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-continuing-healthcare   Since 1 April 2013, responsibility for the collection of data for NHS CHC has been transferred to NHS England. Data on the number of people who are eligible for NHS CHC is published quarterly by the Health and Social Care Information Centre at:   http://www.hscic.gov.uk/article/2021/Website-Search?q=continuing+healthcare&area=both

General Practitioners: Recruitment

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of graduating medical students opted for general practice in each year since 2004.

Dr Daniel Poulter: In England, medical graduates must complete their foundation training before choosing a medical specialty, for example general practice or paediatrics. All foundation schools are now expected to work with Health Education England (HEE) by way of meeting the recommendations set out in ‘Broadening the Foundation Programme’, including that at least 80% of foundation doctors should undertake a community or integrated placement from August 2015.   HEE has also been mandated to ensure that 50% of trainees completing foundation level training enter general practitioner training programmes by 2016.

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to reduce the reliance on locum clinical staff at North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust.

Dr Daniel Poulter: There are many reasons for increased use of agency and temporary staff in the National Health Service in England. These include ensuring safe staffing levels following the Francis Inquiry, covering peaks in demand and periods of staff sickness, difficulties in filling some specialist posts permanently, and affordability. Reducing the use of temporary staff from agencies is a focus for the Department of Health Strategic Workforce Review and the Lord Carter Review of NHS procurement and efficiency.   The Department is taking action nationally to help trusts reduce their agency spend including:   - Undertaking intensive work with a number (11) of trusts to understand agency spend and patterns;   - Created a new toolkit and updated guidance on workforce planning for trusts which is being disseminated to the NHS through a series of workshops starting this month; and   - Brought in tough new rules (through the updated Section 42 guidance) which mean trusts that need extra financial support from the Department will have to prove they have robust plans in place to reduce agency spend – aiming for them to reduce the spend by 50% over the next 18 months.   However, day to day staffing levels are an operational matter for the North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust. It is not for the government but for local NHS organisations to manage staffing requirements based on the needs of their patients and local communities.

Nurses

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the NICE guidelines on safe staffing for nursing in A&E departments, published on 16 January 2015, what assessment (a) the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, (b) Health Education England and (c) his Department has made of the (i) performance of A&E departments in meeting these ratios and (ii) number of full-time equivalent nurses required to meet the ratios across the NHS.

George Freeman: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recently consulted stakeholders on its draft guidance on safe nurse staffing in accident and emergency departments and has not yet published its final guidance. The Department has made no assessment of current performance against the ratios set out in NICE’s draft guidance.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England currently hold a medical exemption certificate.

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people in England who are eligible for a medical exemption certificate.

George Freeman: As of 31 January 2015 the number of people in England who hold a valid medical exemption certificate is 1,769,872. This is based on the number of certificates issued by the NHS Business Services Authority within the previous five years.   No estimate has been made of the number of people in England who meet the underlying eligibility criteria for a medical exemption certificate.

Cervical Cancer

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential savings to the NHS of increasing cervical screening rates.

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase cervical screening rates.

Jane Ellison: The National Health Service cervical screening programme is based on informed choice. A leaflet sent out with every invitation for cervical screening provides women with clear, honest and balanced information about the benefits and limitations of cervical screening in order to ensure women are able to make an informed decision as to whether to have a cervical screening test or not.   Although no estimate has been made of the potential savings to the NHS of increasing cervical screening rates, cost-effectiveness is a key criteria of the UK National Screening Committee recommending whether or not screening for a particular condition should take place. For example, a cost-effectiveness evaluation of the current pilot of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing as primary cervical screening is being undertaken alongside the clinical evaluation of the pilot.   Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer (January 2011) makes clear the important role that cervical screening plays in preventing cervical cancer. The strategy also notes that some groups and communities are not accessing cancer screening services. Public Health England is working with NHS England via the Public Health Section 7A agreement to develop a system of performance improvement through the use of performance floors, and strengthened governance for screening. The aims of the performance floors are:   - Improving performance and equity of service over time by reducing the range of variation at a local level. - Enabling easy identification of poor performance and the setting of objectives and plans for local action, to reduce variation and improve performance.   Public Health England will look at research provided by the STRATEGIC study (Strategies to increase cervical screening uptake at first invitation) to identify methods to help increase uptake among women. The STRATEGIC study will be publishing findings in May 2016, more details of this can be found at;   http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/0916401

Diabetes

Mr Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether patient uptake of insulin pumps has reached the levels set by the NICE technology appraisal 151 benchmarking tool issued in July 2008; how many people have taken up the use of such pumps; and if he will make  a statement.

George Freeman: Commissioners and providers should make insulin pumps available for those people with Type 1 diabetes who meet the criteria in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s technology appraisal guidance on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (TA151) as well as ensuring that relevant structured patient education is provided to support people newly diagnosed with diabetes and at appropriate points in their life as their condition progresses.   Information on the number of people using insulin pumps is not collected centrally.   The United Kingdom Insulin Pump Audit, published in May 2013, collected data from across the United Kingdom. The audit demonstrated that 6% of adults with Type 1 diabetes and 19% of children with Type 1 diabetes were being treated with insulin pumps. The audit’s findings are available at:   www.diabetes.org.uk/Documents/News/The_United_Kingdom_Insulin_Pump_Audit_May_2013.pdf

Women and Equalities

Equal Opportunities

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, in which professions and sectors are (a) women and (b) men most over-represented; and what steps she is taking to encourage more equal gender representation in such areas.

Jo Swinson: According to the Labour Force Survey, women are most over-represented (80%+) in the childcare and nursing/caring professions, as well as in hairdressing and secretarial occupations. Men are most over-represented (90%+) in construction, engineering, electrical trades and transport.Changing these patterns needs to start in childhood and the Government is working hard to ensure that boys and girls are able to consider a broad range of career opportunities, unhindered by out dated stereotypes. For example, the Government supports the Your Life campaign, which aims to double the proportion of undergraduate engineering and technology degrees taken by women to 30% by 2030. It also asks employers to take action to recruit and retain female talent.To help make sure young people are able to consider the widest possible range of jobs the Government is setting up a new careers and enterprise company to support greater engagement between employers, and schools and colleges. Chaired by Christine Hodgson (Chair of Capgemini UK) it will be independent of government and will ensure young people get the inspiration and guidance they need to leave school or college ready to succeed in working life.

Vocational Guidance: Females

Karl McCartney: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress she has made on encouraging girls to consider a range of careers.

Nick Boles: The Government is ensuring that girls are able to consider a broad range of career opportunities. For example, the Your Life campaign aims to significantly increase the numbers of girls taking A Level physics and maths within three years, and double the proportion of undergraduate engineering and technology degrees taken by women to 30% by 2030. It also asks employers to take action to recruit and retain female talent. We have seen progress, with the number of girls taking science and maths at A level increasing by 12% between 2010 and 2014 and there are now more girls than ever taking these subjects. We are also establishing a new employer-led careers and enterprise company to support greater engagement between employers, schools and colleges. Chaired by Christine Hodgson (Chair, Capgemini UK), it will be independent of Government and will ensure young people get the inspiration and guidance they need to leave school or college ready to succeed in working life.

Crimes of Violence: Females

Jesse Norman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent progress has been made on reducing violence against women.

Jo Swinson: The Coalition Government ring-fenced £40m as part of our strategy to end violence against women and girls. We have criminalised forced marriage, introduced new stalking offences and announced a new offence of coercive and controlling behaviour in relation to domestic abuse. The prevalence of sexual assault against women has fallen to a new low of 2.2%, the reporting of these hidden crimes has increased and prosecutions for domestic and sexual violence are rising.